Flat pack containers

ABSTRACT

A child-resistant package includes a seal for sealing a package and a latch for securing the package in a closed position. According to embodiments, the package includes a first shell portion having a first closed lip and a second shell portion having a second closed lip. According to embodiments, the seal may be formed by the engagement of an angled outer wall of the first closed lip with a bent or deformed thin wall of the second closed lip. The package may also incorporate one or more elastomeric ancillary face and/or side seals. The first and second shell portions may be joined by a hinge, such as a double hinge. Additionally, the insert may include a dispenser assembly that controls the dispensing of product from a product containing space to a dispenser receptacle. A spring may bias the latch in a locked or rest position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a package, for example achild-resistant, elder friendly package to contain articles such aspharmaceutical dosage forms or tobacco products.

Containers provided with child safety features are well known in theart, particularly in North America, for packaging pharmaceuticalproducts. The child safety feature is also referred to as aChild-Resistant Closure (CRC). In general, a child-resistant closuremust be difficult for children under 5 years old to open, yet begenerally user friendly for users over 50 years old, particularly forusers over 60 years old. The US government has established a CR protocolto evaluate effectiveness of closures. Child-Resistant Protocol testingis defined under CFR Title 16, Part 1700 by the Food and DrugAdministration. Ideally these are provided in a way that is easy andconvenient for the intended consumer to use the product.

Product packaging enhances a product with many additional features suchas environmental protection and protection from being damaged. Manyproducts are packaged in multiple unit packages or bulk for consumerconvenience and packaging efficiency. Typically the entire product isexposed when the package is opened. If the product needs to be protectedfrom the environment, for example humidity, then a seal is required.

One way to ensure the product is protected is to provide a seal for theentire contents of the package. This type of approach may impose certaindimensional, shape or other design constraints on the package design. Inthis approach, all of the product may be exposed to the consumer orchild who opens the package. Some means would be needed to restrain theproduct so that it is held in place so that it is easy to access butdoes not fall out of the package.

Another way is to protect the product in a protective envelope orwrapper. When this wrapper is opened, the entire product is exposed.Again, the entire product is exposed to the environment and it is nolonger protected. In addition, the entire remaining product is exposedto children.

Depending on the requirements of the package, the design may becomecomplicated with several contradictory constraints that would need to bemanaged in order to meet the requirements. This could lead to addedexpense and an undesirable package for the consumer.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the invention is a package comprising a first shell portionhaving a base sidewall and an inner region and second shell portionhaving a lid sidewall and at least one catch. According to anembodiment, a hinge joins the first shell portion and the second shellportion. The package also includes at least one latch for releasablylatching the first shell portion and the second shell portion together.

The at least one latch includes a first lever leg and a second leverleg, the second lever leg pivotably secured to a pivot point thatextends from the first shell portion. The latch also includes anactuator portion of the first lever leg that is adapted to be displacedby a user to pivotably displace the second leg about the pivot pointfrom a locked position to an unlocked position. The latch also includesa latch engagement portion secured to the second lever leg, the latchengagement portion configured to lockingly engage the at least one catchwhen the second lever leg is in a locked position, and to disengage thecatch when the second lever leg is moved to an unlocked position

Another aspect of the invention is a package comprising a first shellportion having a base sidewall and an inner region, a second shellportion having a lid sidewall and at least one catch, the at least onecatch having a catch aperture, and, optionally, a hinge that joins thefirst shell portion and the second shell portion. An insert ispositioned within the inner region of the first shell portion, theinsert having at least one latch for releasably latching the first shellportion and the second shell portion together. The at least one latch isintegrally molded to the insert, at least a portion of the at least onelatch separated from a body of the insert by a space. The space isconfigured to receive the displacement of at least a portion of thelatch as the latch is moved from a locked position to an open position.

The latch includes a latch leg having a first end and a second end, thesecond end attached to the body of the insert. The latch also includes alatch opening that is configured to receive the at least one catch whenthe first shell portion and the second shell portion are together in aclosed position. Additionally, the latch includes a latch engagementportion positioned in the latch opening and which is configured toextend into the catch aperture to lock the package closed when thesecond shell portion are together in a closed position. Further, thelatch includes an actuator portion adapted to be displaced by a userfrom a locked position to disengage the latch engagement portion fromthe catch aperture.

Another aspect of the invention is a package that includes a first shellportion having a base sidewall and at least one protrusion, a secondshell portion having a lid sidewall and a hook, and, optionally, a hingejoining the first shell portion and the second shell portion. Thepackage also includes at least one latch at least one latch forreleasably latching the first shell portion and the second shell portiontogether.

The at least one latch includes a first leg and a second leg that arejoined at an angle. The first leg includes an actuator portion, at leasta portion of the actuator portion extending into an opening in the sidebase wall, the opening configured to allow the slideable movement of theactuator portion along the base sidewall. The second leg has a slot anda spring, the slot being configured to mate with a protrusion of thefirst shell portion to guide the displacement of the second leg. Thespring is configured to abut the protrusion and bias the latch in alocked position. The at least one latch also includes a latch engagementportion configured to lockingly engage the hook when the latchengagement portion is in a locked position, and be disengaged from thehook when the latch engagement portion is in an unlocked position.

Another aspect of the invention is a package that includes a first shellportion having a base sidewall and at least one protrusion, a secondshell portion having a lid sidewall and a hook, and, optionally, a hingejoining the first shell portion and the second shell portion. Thepackage also includes at least one latch at least one latch forreleasably latching the first shell portion and the second shell portiontogether.

The at least one latch includes a first leg and a second leg that arejoined at an angle. The first leg includes an actuator portion, at leasta portion of the actuator portion extending into an opening in the sidebase wall, the opening configured to allow the slideable movement of theactuator portion along the base sidewall. The second leg has a slot anda spring, the slot being configured to mate with a protrusion of thefirst shell portion to guide the displacement of the second leg. Thespring is configured to abut the protrusion and bias the latch in alocked position. The at least one latch also includes a latch engagementportion configured to lockingly engage the hook when the latchengagement portion is in a locked position, and be disengaged from thehook when the latch engagement portion is in an unlocked position.

According to another aspect of the invention, a package includes a firstshell portion having a base sidewall and at least one protrusion, asecond shell portion having a lid sidewall and a hook, and, optionally,a hinge joining the first shell portion and the second shell portion.The package also includes at least one latch for releasably latching thefirst shell portion and the second shell portion together.

The at least one latch includes a latch engagement portion about asecond end of the latch and configured to engage the hook when the latchis in a locked position, and to disengage from the hook when the latchis in an open position. The at least one latch also includes an actuatorportion positioned about a first end of the at least one latch. Theactuator portion is adapted to be displaced by a user to displace thelatch engagement portion from a locked position to an open position. Theat least one latch also includes an arm having a slot, the slot beingconfigured to mate with a protrusion of the first shell portion to guidethe displacement of the arm. Additionally, a spring biases the at leastone latch in a locked position. The spring is configured to extend fromthe arm and abut the protrusion

Further, another aspect of the invention is a package that includes afirst shell portion having a base sidewall and an inner region, a secondshell portion having a lid sidewall and at least one lid latchingabutment, and, optionally, a hinge joining the first shell portion andthe second shell portion. The package also includes an insert positionedwithin the inner region of the first shell portion, the insert having anupper region and at least one latch for releasably latching the firstshell portion and the second shell portion together.

The at least one latch integrally is molded to the insert and includes afirst leg and a second leg, the second leg being connected to the bodyof the insert, at least a portion of the second leg being separated by aspace between the second leg and the body of the insert. At least aportion of the first leg is positioned beneath the upper surface of theinsert. The at least one latch also includes a base latching abutmentattached to the first leg, the base latching abutment positioned aboutan aperture in the insert to allow the base latching abutment tolockingly engage the lid latching abutment when the package is in aclosed position. The at least one latch also includes an actuatorportion adapted to be displaced by a user to displace the base latchingabutment from a locking engagement with the lid latching abutment to anunlocked engagement. The second leg is configured to bias the actuatorportion in a locked position.

Additionally, another aspect of the invention is a package comprising afirst shell portion having a base sidewall, a second shell portionhaving a first lid latching abutment and a second lid latching abutment,and, optionally, a hinge joining the first shell portion and secondshell portion. The package also includes an upper latch and a lowerlatch for a latching engagement with the first and second lid latchingabutments.

The upper latch includes an actuator portion, a spring, a leg, anopening, and a first base latching abutment. The lower latch includes anactuator portion, a spring, a leg, and a second base latching abutment.At least a portion of the leg of the upper latch is positioned above atleast a portion of the leg of the lower latch and in a slidingengagement with the leg of the lower latch. Further, at least a portionof the second base latching abutment of the lower leg protrudes throughthe opening in the upper leg. The actuator portions of the upper andlower latches are adapted to be displaced by a user to displace thelatching abutments of the upper and lower latches from a lockingengagement to an unlocked disengagement with the first and second firstlid latching abutments.

Another aspect of the invention is a package comprising a first shellportion having an inner region, a second shell portion having at leastone lid latching abutment, and, optionally, a hinge joining the firstshell portion and second shell portion. The package also includes aninsert that is secured in the inner region. The insert has at least oneproduct containing space, an opening, an angled tab, and a guide. Thepackage also includes at least one latch for releasably latching thefirst shell portion and the second shell portion together.

The at least one latch includes a first leg and a second leg. A latchingabutment is attached to a second leg, the latching abutment configuredto lockingly engage the at least one lid latching abutment when the atleast one latch is in a locked position. The second leg includes anopening configured to receive a guide from the first shell portion thatassists in guiding the displacement of the second leg as the latch movesfrom a locked to an unlocked position. The second leg also includes aslot configured to mate with the angled tab, the slot configured to movethe latching abutment in the angled direction of the tab when the latchis moved from a locked position to an unlocked position. The at leastone latch also includes an actuator portion attached to the first leg,the actuator portion adapted to be displaced by a user to displace thelatching abutment from a locking engagement to an unlocked disengagementwith the at least one lid latching abutment. A spring is configured tobias the actuator portion in a locked position.

Another aspect of the invention is a package including a first shellportion having an inner region and a base sidewall, the base sidewallhaving at least one opening, a second shell portion having a closed lip,and, optionally, a hinge joining the first shell portion and the secondshell portion. The package also includes an insert having at least oneactuator portion and an upper surface. The at least one actuator portionis configured to protrude into the at least one opening in the basesidewall. The package also includes a gasket having an upper portion, aninner area, and at least one spring. The inner area of the gasket isconfigured to receive at least a portion of the insert. The upperportion of the gasket has a groove on which the closed lip seats to forma seal when the first shell portion and second shell portion aretogether in a closed position. The at least one actuator is adapted tobe displaced by a user to displace the spring to at least partiallydeform the gasket to unseat the closed lip from the groove.

Another aspect of the invention is a package that includes a first shellportion having an inner region and a base sidewall, the base sidewallhaving at least one opening, a second shell portion having at least anda closed lip and at least one catch, the catch having a catch aperture,and, optionally, a hinge joining the first shell portion and the secondshell portion. The package also includes an insert having an insert baseand an insert wall.

Additionally, the package includes a gasket having an inner surface, anouter surface, and a gasket lip. At least a portion of the gasket baseis positioned beneath the insert base. The inner surface is adjacent tothe insert wall. The gasket lip is configured to be engaged by theclosed lip with the first shell portion and second shell portion aretogether in a closed position to form a seal to prevent the passage ofambient air outside of the seal into the area enclosed by the seal.

The package also includes an inner wall member having at least onelatch, the at least one latch having an actuator portion and a latchingabutment. The latching abutment is configured to be removably placed inthe catch aperture to lock the package closed when the first and secondshell portions are together in a closed position.

According to another aspect of the invention, the package includes a lidhaving a top portion, a front wall, and a closed lip. The package alsoincludes a sleeve having a base, a sidewall, an opening, and an innerarea. The lid is pivotably attached to the sleeve. The package alsoincludes a container having a container sidewall and a container base.The container is configured for placement within the inner area of thesleeve. The container sidewall and the container base define a productcontaining space. An upper region of the container sidewall defines acontainer opening. A slide button is attached to the container for auser to slidingly displace the container within the sleeve from an openposition to a closed position. The container sidewall is configured tobe received in a groove between the closed lip and at least a portion ofthe sleeve sidewall when the package and the container are in a closedposition. The placement of the container sidewall within the grooveforms a seal about the container opening.

Additionally, another aspect of the invention is a package including abase having a sidewall, a shoulder, and a product containing space. Thepackage also includes a lid that is pivotably attached to the base. Thelid includes a lid sidewall, a top portion, and a lid closed lip. Thelid closed lip is configured to form a seal about the product containingspace when package is in a closed position. The base shoulder and lidshoulder are configured to prevent the lid from being pivotablydisplaced from the base when the package is in a closed position.

The package also includes a push button that is positioned at least in afirst orifice in the lid. The push button is configured to be displacedto separate the lid from the base by a distance sufficient to separatethe lid shoulder from the base shoulder to allow the lid to be pivotedabout the base to open the package.

Another aspect of the invention is a package including a first shellportion having an inner region, a second shell portion, and, optionally,a hinge joining the first shell portion and the second shell portion. Aninsert is secured in the inner region, the insert including a productcontaining space and a dispenser receptacle. The product containingspace has a mouth through which product may be removed from the productcontaining space. The dispenser receptacle has an opening through whichproduct may enter the dispenser receptacle. The position of the mouth isat least partially offset from the position of the opening.

A slide assembly is operably attached to the insert, the slide assemblyincluding a lever adapted to be displaced by a user to move the slideassembly from a closed position to an open position. The slide assemblyalso includes a slide opening, the slide opening being in communicationwith the mouth of the product containing space when the slide assemblyis in a closed position so the slide opening receives product fromproduct containing space. The slide opening is in communication with theopening of the dispenser receptacle when the slide assembly is displacedto an open position to deliver product from the product containing spacethat is in the slide opening to the dispenser receptacle. Additionally,a spring is configured to bias the positioning of the slide assembly.

Additionally, according to another aspect of the invention, a packageincludes a first shell portion having an inner region, a second shellportion, and, optionally, a hinge joining the first shell portion andthe second shell portion. The package also includes an insert secured inthe inner region. The insert includes a product containing space and adispenser receptacle. The product containing space has a mouth throughwhich product may be removed from the product containing space. Thedispenser receptacle has an opening through which product may enter thedispenser receptacle. The mouth and the opening are at least partiallyoffset.

The insert also includes a push button assembly that is attached to theinsert. The push button assembly includes a button having an apertureand at least one spring. The aperture is positioned within at least aportion of the body of the button. The aperture is in communication withthe mouth when the push button assembly is in a closed position so thatthe aperture may receive product from the product containing space. Theaperture is in communication with the opening of the dispenser when thepush button assembly is displaced to an open position so that product inthe aperture is delivered through the opening to the dispenserreceptacle. The at least one spring is configured to bias the positionof the slide assembly.

Another aspect of the invention is a package that includes a first shellportion having an inner region, a second shell portion, and, optionally,a hinge joining the first shell portion and the second shell portion.The package also includes an insert secured in the inner region. Theinsert includes a product containing space and a dispenser receptacle.The product containing space has a mouth through which product may beremoved from the product containing space. The dispenser receptacle hasan opening through which product may enter the dispenser receptacle. Theposition of the mouth is at least partially offset from the position ofthe opening.

The insert also includes a push button assembly that is attached to theinsert. The push button assembly includes a button, at least one spring,a tab, and a ramp. The bottom of the button is separated from the rampby a distance that permits the placement of product from the mouth ofthe product containing space to between the bottom of the button and theramp when the push button assembly is in a closed position. The tabextending from the button is configured to displace the ramp as thebutton assembly is moved from a closed position to an open position. Thedisplaced ramp is moved into communication with the opening of thedispenser receptacle to allow the product beneath the button to betransported to the dispenser receptacle. The at least one spring isconfigured to bias the positioning of the slide assembly.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the first asecond shell portions of the package are joined together by a doublehinge, among other hinges.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the packagemay also include a seal, such as a seal formed by the engagement betweena first closed lip of the first shell portion and the second closed lipof the second shell portion, among others. According to an embodiment,the first closed lip may have an angled outer wall that engages with,and distorts, deforms, or bends a generally straight and thin wall ofthe second closed lip to form the seal. Additionally, the packages mayinclude ancillary elastomeric face and side seals.

Further, the package may include an insert that is covered by a cover.The insert may include a product containing space. The cover may coverat least a portion of the product containing space while also providinga dispenser opening that is configured for the removal of product fromthe insert. The configuration of the dispenser opening may at leastpartially depend on the shape of the product that is being dispensed.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the insertmay also include downwardly extending tabs that, when the insert isbeing inserted into the first base portion, may engage springs in thefirst shell portion or latch springs that assist in guiding the insertinto proper position in the first shell portion.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the at leastthe second shell portion and insert may be integrally molded to form afirst member. The first member may be attached to a second member, suchas a first shell portion or the base of the first shell by a snap fit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the package assembly,showing the lid open to show the interior.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but having portions of the inserttray cut away to show underlying details.

FIG. 2A is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing an alternative embodimenthaving modified first and third legs 60 and 90 and no pivots 84 and 102.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing the latches advanced totheir releasing positions.

FIG. 3A is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing the alternative embodimentof FIG. 2A.

FIG. 4 is a detail side elevation view showing one of the latchesengaged.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing the latch disengaged.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the package according to an embodimentof the invention, showing the package when open.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 6, showing thepackage when closed.

FIG. 8 is a cutaway view of the embodiment of FIG. 6, showing details ofthe base wells.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 6, showing the interiorof the base shell.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 6, showing the exteriorof the base shell.

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of the exterior of the base shell inthe embodiment of FIG. 6.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 6, showing thepackage when closed, cut away to show the relation of the base wells andlid wells.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the lid shell of the embodiment of FIG.6.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 6 when open, cutaway to show the wells and shown with product sticks in the wells andseal sheets covering the sells.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the package,showing a different well arrangement and shape.

FIG. 16 is a detail view of another embodiment of the package, showing acorrugated shell wall for the base shell and/or lid shell.

FIGS. 17 (showing a base shell) and 18 (showing a lid shell) are viewssimilar to FIGS. 9 and 13 of another embodiment having a perimeter sealaround the wells.

FIG. 19 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the package, whenclosed, having blister sheets joined to the package and a perimeter sealaround the wells.

FIG. 20 is a cutaway perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 19, whenopen.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 22 is a similar view of the embodiment of FIG. 21, showing theshell in isolation.

FIG. 23 is a sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 21, showingdetails of the drawers.

FIG. 24 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 21 with the shellremoved, showing details of the latches and drawers. The ramps 70, 72,84, and 86 are shown in phantom.

FIG. 25 is an isolated perspective view of a drawer of the embodiment ofFIG. 21, primarily showing the bottom of the drawer.

FIG. 26 is an isolated perspective view of a drawer of the embodiment ofFIG. 21, primarily showing the top of the drawer.

FIG. 27 is an isolated perspective view of one side of a latch accordingto the embodiment of FIG. 21.

FIG. 28 is an isolated perspective view of the other side of a latchaccording to the embodiment of FIG. 21.

FIG. 29 is a transverse section of the embodiment of FIG. 21.

FIG. 30 is a perspective cutaway view of the embodiment of FIG. 21,showing the interior wall.

FIG. 31 is another section of the embodiment of FIG. 21, showing moreinterior details.

FIG. 32 is perspective view of an embodiment of the package assemblyshown in an open position, without an insert, and with a pivotable latchin a rest or locked position.

FIG. 33 is a view similar to the embodiment of FIG. 32, but shows thepivotable latch in an open position.

FIG. 34 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the package assembly(shown without the second shell portion) with the pivotable latch in arest position.

FIG. 35 is a perspective view of the pivotable latch shown in theembodiments in FIGS. 32 to 34.

FIG. 36 is a side cross sectional view of portion of an embodiment of apackage assembly having a double hinge.

FIG. 37 is a cross sectional view of a portion of a package assemblyhaving a double hinge.

FIG. 38 is a cross sectional view of a portion of an embodiment of apackage assembly in an open position, the package assembly having aflexible second closed lip and a first closed lip with an angled outerwall.

FIG. 39 is a cross sectional view of a section of the package shown inFIG. 38 with the package assembly in a closed position.

FIG. 40 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a package assemblyin a closed position having an ancillary seal that is configured toassist in creating either a face seal or a side seal within the package.

FIG. 41 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a package assemblyin a closed position having an ancillary seal that is configured toassist in creating a face seal within the package.

FIG. 42 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a package assemblyin a closed position having an ancillary seal that is configured toassist in creating a side seal within the package.

FIG. 43 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a package assemblyhaving an ancillary seal that is configured to assist in creating eithera face seal or a side seal within the package.

FIG. 44 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a package assemblyhaving a second closed lip that is configured to assist in creating aseal within the package.

FIG. 45 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a package assemblyhaving an ancillary seal that is configured to assist in creating eithera face seal or a side seal within the package.

FIG. 46 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a package assemblyhaving a second closed lip that is configured to assist in creating aseal within the package.

FIG. 47 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a package assemblyhaving an ancillary seal that is configured to assist in creating eithera face seal or a side seal within the package.

FIG. 48 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a package assemblyhaving a second closed lip that is configured to assist in creating aseal within the package.

FIG. 49 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a package assemblyhaving a second closed lip that is configured to assist in creating aseal within the package.

FIG. 50 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a package assemblyhaving an ancillary seal that is configured to assist in creating a faceseal within the package.

FIG. 51 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a package assemblyhaving an ancillary seal that is configured to assist in creating a faceseal within the package.

FIG. 52 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a package assemblyhaving an ancillary seal that is configured to assist in creating a faceseal and a side seal within the package.

FIG. 53 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a package assemblyhaving an ancillary seal that is configured to assist in creating a faceseal within the package.

FIG. 54 is a cross sectional view of a portion of an embodiment of apackage assembly in a closed position and having a second closed lip andangled outer wall configured to provide a side seal, and an ancillaryseal that is configured to assist in creating a face seal within thepackage.

FIG. 55 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the package assemblywith the lid open and showing the interior.

FIG. 56 is a side view of the package assembly shown in FIG. 55.

FIG. 57 is a perspective view of the first shell portion and insert ofthe package shown in FIG. 55.

FIG. 58 is a perspective view of a first shell portion of the packageshown in FIG. 55.

FIG. 59 is a perspective view of the insert of the package shown in FIG.55, with the insert having an integrally molded latch.

FIG. 60 is a perspective view of a portion of the integrally moldedlatch shown in FIG. 59 in a rest or locked position.

FIG. 61 is a top view of an embodiment of a package assembly without theinsert and showing the package opened and the latch in a rest or lockedposition.

FIG. 62 is a top view of an embodiment of a package assembly without theinsert and showing the package opened and the latch in an open position.

FIG. 63 is a perspective view of the package shown in FIG. 61.

FIG. 64 is a perspective view of the package shown in FIG. 62.

FIG. 65 is a perspective view of the first shell portion of the packageshown in FIG. 61.

FIG. 66 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a package assemblyshowing the package opened and the latch in a closed or rest position.

FIG. 67 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the package assembly,having the lid open and showing the interior.

FIG. 68 is a top view of the first shell portion and insert of thepackage show in FIG. 68.

FIG. 69 is a top view of the first shell portion and latches of thepackage show in FIG. 68.

FIG. 70 is a top view of the first shell portion of the package show inFIG. 68.

FIG. 71 is a perspective view of the latches of the package shown inFIG. 68, the latches being shown in a rest or locked position.

FIG. 72 is a perspective view of the latches of the package shown inFIG. 68, the latches being shown in an open position.

FIGS. 73 a and 73 b are perspective views of an embodiment of thepackage assembly, showing the lid open to show the interior and with thelatches in a rest or locked position.

FIG. 74 is a bottom view of an embodiment of an insert for the packageassembly shown in FIGS. 73 a and 73 b.

FIG. 75 is a perspective view of the insert shown in FIG. 74.

FIG. 76 is a perspective view of the insert shown in FIG. 74 aftermolding and before the first and second legs of the latches are foldedinto position for assembly of the insert with the package assembly.

FIG. 77 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the package assembly,having the lid open and showing the interior with the latches in alocked or rest position.

FIG. 78 is a perspective view of the package shown in FIG. 77 butwithout the insert.

FIG. 79 is a perspective view of the package shown in FIG. 77 butwithout the insert and the first and second latch.

FIG. 80 is a perspective view of overlapping first and second latches.

FIG. 81 is a bottom view of an embodiment of an insert having twolatches shown in the rest or locked position.

FIG. 82 is a perspective view of the insert shown in FIG. 81 with thelatches in the rest or locked position.

FIG. 83 is a perspective view of a portion of the insert shown in FIG.81 having a first latch in a rest or locked position and a second latchremoved from the insert.

FIG. 84 is a bottom view of the insert shown in FIG. 81 but with thelatches in an open position.

FIG. 85 is a perspective view of the insert shown in FIG. 84 with thelatches in an open position.

FIG. 86 illustrates a package is a perspective view of a packageassembly having a gasket according to an embodiment of the presentinvention shown in an open position.

FIG. 87 is a side view of the package assembly shown in FIG. 86.

FIG. 88 is a top view of the first shell portion, insert, and gasket ofthe package assembly show in FIG. 86.

FIG. 89 is a sectional view taken along section line A-A of FIG. 86 ofthe package assembly.

FIG. 90 is a perspective view of the gasket shown in FIG. 88.

FIG. 91 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a package assemblyhaving an integrated seal and spring release shown in an open position.

FIG. 92 is a view of the front of the package assembly illustrated inFIG. 91 without the second shell portion.

FIG. 93 is a sectional view taken along section line A-A of FIG. 91 ifthe package assembly were in a closed position with the second shellportion.

FIG. 94 is a portion of a sectional view of the package assemblyidentified by circle B-B in FIG. 93.

FIG. 95 is a perspective view of an inner wall member of the packageassembly shown in FIG. 91.

FIG. 96 is a cross sectional view of an insert being inserted into afirst shell portion of a package according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 97 is a front perspective view of a first and second memberaccording to an embodiment of a package assembly.

FIG. 98 is a rear perspective view of the package assembly shown in FIG.97.

FIG. 99 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a packageassembly having a slide button and shown with the lid and slide buttonlatch in an open position.

FIG. 100 is a rear perspective view of the package assembly illustratedin FIG. 99.

FIG. 101 is a side perspective and partial cutaway of the packageassembly illustrated in FIG. 99 with the package assembly closed.

FIG. 102 is a perspective view of a portion of the package assemblyshown in FIG. 101.

FIG. 103 is a perspective view of a portion of the package assemblyshown in FIG. 101 with the slide button latch moved to an open position.

FIG. 104 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a rotatable packageassembly having a push button assembly and shown in a closed position.

FIG. 105 is a perspective view of the rotatable package assemblyillustrated in FIG. 104 and shown in an open position.

FIG. 106 a rear perspective view of the rotatable package assembly shownin FIG. 105.

FIG. 107 is a first side perspective view of an embodiment of an inserthaving a slide assembly.

FIG. 108 is a first side perspective view of the insert shown in FIG.107 but without a cover.

FIG. 109 is a second side perspective view of the insert shown in FIG.107 but without a cover.

FIG. 110 is a front perspective view of the insert shown in FIG. 107 butwithout a cover.

FIG. 111 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a secondary inserthaving a slide assembly.

FIG. 112 is a side perspective view of an embodiment of an insert havinga push button assembly.

FIG. 113 is a side perspective view of the insert shown in FIG. 112 butwithout a cover.

FIG. 114 is a rear perspective view of the insert shown in FIG. 113.

FIG. 115 is a front perspective view of the insert shown in FIG. 113.

FIG. 116 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 113 of anembodiment of an insert having a push button assembly.

FIG. 117 is a side perspective view of an embodiment of an insert havinga push button assembly and ramp.

FIG. 118 is a side perspective view of the insert shown FIG. 117 butwithout a cover.

FIG. 119 is a front perspective view of the insert shown in FIG. 118.

FIG. 120 is a rear perspective view of the insert shown in FIG. 118.

FIG. 121 is a bottom plan view of an embodiment of a secondary insert,ramp, and a portion of the push button assembly.

FIG. 122 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 121 of asecondary insert and a portion of the push button assembly.

FIG. 123 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a push buttonassembly.

The following reference characters are used in the specification andfigures:

40 package 42 First shell portion 44 Second shell portion 46 Firstperipheral portion (of 42) 48 Second peripheral portion (of 42) 50 Firstperipheral portion (of 44) 52 Second peripheral portion (of 44) 54 Firstlatching abutment 56 Hinge 58 Latch 60 First leg (of 58) 62 Second leg(of 58) 64 Actuator portion (of 60) 66 Second latching abutment 68Peripheral edge (of 42) 70 Peripheral edge (of 44) 72 First closed lip74 Enclosure (defined by 72) 76 Second closed lip 78 Insert 80 Firstbending ramp (for 62) 82 First biasing abutment (for 62) 84 First pivot(of 60) 86 Third latching abutment 88 Second latch 90 Third leg 92Fourth leg 94 Actuator portion (of 90) 96 Second bending ramp (engagedby 92) 98 Fourth latching abutment 100 Second biasing abutment (for 92)102 Second pivot (of 90) 104 Remainder of 42 (other than insert 78) 106Leaf spring (of 60) 108 Leaf spring (of 90) 110 Recess 112 Sidewall (of110) 114 Flange 116 Aperture (in 114) 118 Aperture (in 114) 120 package122 Base shell 124 Lid shell 126 Integral hinge 128 First closure detent129 First closure aperture 130 Second closure detent 131 Second closureaperture 132 Inside surface (of 22) 134 Outside surface (of 22) 136 Basewell (of 22) 138 Base well (of 22) 140 Base well (of 22) 142 Base well(of 22) 144 Base well (of 22) 146 Long upstanding wall (of 36) 148 Longupstanding wall (of 38) 150 Gap (between 46 and 48) 152 Short upstandingwall (of 36) 154 Short upstanding wall (of 38) 156 Marginal sealingsurface (of 36) 158 Marginal sealing surface (of 38) 160 Marginalsealing surface (of 40) 162 Marginal sealing surface (of 42) 164Marginal sealing surface (of 44) 166 Long upstanding wall (of 38) 168Long Corrugation 172 Inside surface (of 24) 174 Outside surface (of 24)176 Base wall (of 24) 178 Base wall (of 24) 180 Base wall (of 24) 182Base wall (of 24) 184 Base wall (of 24) 186 Long upstanding wall (of 76)188 Long upstanding wall (of 78) 190 Gap (between 86 and 88) 192 Shortupstanding wall (of 76) 194 Short upstanding wall (of 76) 196 Marginalsealing surface (of 76) 198 Marginal sealing surface (of 78) 200Marginal sealing surface (of 80) 202 Marginal sealing surface (of 82)204 Marginal sealing surface (of 84) 206 Long upstanding wall (of 78)210 Upward lid abutment 212 Downward base abutment 214 Resilient tab(for 28) 216 Provisional portion (of 44) 218 Distal portion (of 44) 220Upward lid abutment 222 Resilient tab 224 Proximal part (of 122) 226Distal part (of 122) 228 Thumb tab 230 Sealing sheet 232 Sealing sheet234 Cut (of 130) 236 Cut (of 130) 238 Cut (of 130) 240 Cut (of 130) 242Cut (of 132) 244 Cut (of 132) 246 Cut (of 132) 248 Cut (of 132) 250Product piece 252 Product piece 254 Product piece 256 Product piece 258Product piece 260 Product piece 262 Product piece 264 Product piece 266Product piece 268 Product piece 270 Strip 272 Well 274 Lid shell 276Base shell 280 Base shell (FIG. 12) 282 Lid shell (FIG. 13) 283Perimeter seal 284 Lip (of 180) 286 Lip (of 182) 290 Base shell 292 Lidshell 294 Blister sheet (of 190) 296 Blister sheet (of 192) 298 Coversheet (of 190) 300 Cover sheet (of 192) 330 Container 332 Shell 334First drawer 336 Second drawer 338 First abutment (of stop) 340 Secondabutment (of stop) 342 First latch 344 Second latch 346 First draweropening 348 Second drawer opening 350 Passage (of 30) 352 First sideopening (of 30) 354 Second side opening (of 30) 356 Gasket (of 34) 358Storage area (of 34) 360 First link (of 34) 362 Second link 364 Firstpush button gasket 366 Second push button gasket 368 First latchabutment (of 42) 370 Ramp (of drawer 42) 372 Ramp (of drawer 42) 374Second latch abutment (of 44) 376 Push button (of 42) 378 Push button(of 44) 380 First unlatching mechanism 382 Second unlatching mechanism384 Ramp (of drawer 34) 386 Ramp (of drawer 34) 388 Link (of drawer 34)390 First drawer abutment (of 34) 392 Second drawer abutment (of 36) 394First stop (in drawer 34) 396 Second stop (in drawer 36) 398 Second link(of drawer 34) 400 Guide (of 32) 402 Guide (of 32) 404 Guide (of 32) 406Guide (of 32) 408 Guide (of 32) 410 Guide (of 32) 412 Cover (of 34) 420Package 422 First shell portion 424 Second shell portion 426 Hinge 428Latch 430 Base peripheral edge 432 Base sidewall 434 Inner region 436Lid peripheral edge 438 Lid sidewall 440 Interior region 442 Catch 444Actuator portion 446 Lever 447 Wall segment 448 Latch engagement portion450 First lever leg 452 Second lever leg 454 First pivot point 456 Baseplate 458 Contoured wall segment 460 First aperture 462 First opening464 Second aperture 466 Second opening 468 Catch aperture 470 Actuatorguide 472 Slot 472 Latch protrusion 474 Groove 476 Double hinge 478 Body480 Space 482 First pivot 484 Second pivot 486 First end 488 Second end490 Insert 494 Post 496 Seal 498 Package 500 Product containing space502 First shell portion 504 Second shell portion 506 Insert 508 Firstclosed lip 510 Angled outer wall 512 Second closed lip 514 Package 516First shell portion 518 Second shell portion 520 Insert 522 Ancillaryseal 524 Inner area 526 Second closed lip 528 Upper surface (of insert520) 530 Inner wall surface (of insert 520) 532 Inner surface (of secondclosed lip 530) 534 Outer wall surface (of insert 520) 536 Lid guides538 Angled outer wall 540 Package 542 First shell portion 544 Secondshell portion 546 Insert 548 Hinge 550 Base 552 Base sidewall 554 Innerregion 556 Lid sidewall 558 Top portion 560 Interior region 562 Catch564 Catch aperture 566 Latch 568 Product containing space 570 Cover 572Dispenser opening 574 Access opening 576 Latch leg 578 Actuator portion580 Latch opening 582 Latch engagement portion 584 First opening 586Second opening 588 First aperture 590 Second aperture 600 Package 602First shell portion 604 Second shell portion 606 Hinge 608 Latch 610Base sidewall 612 Inner region 614 Protrusion 616 Lid sidewall 618Interior region 620 Hook 622 Insert 624 Actuator portion 626 First leg628 Second leg 630 Slot 632 Spring 634 Latch engagement portion 636First end 638 Second end 640 Prong 642 Insert aperture 644 Opening 646First guide 648 Second guide 650 Corner guide 652 Corner 654 Back end656 Package 658 First shell portion 660 Second shell portion 662 Hinge664 Latch 666 Base sidewall 668 Inner region 670 Protrusion 672 Lidsidewall 674 Interior region 676 Hook 678 Insert 680 Actuator portion682 Arm 684 Spring 686 Latch engagement portion 688 Slot 690 Opening 692Side 694 Front portion 696 Aperture 698 First end portion 700 Second endportion 702 Guides 704 Prong 706 Package 708 First shell portion 710Second shell portion 712 Insert 714 Opening 716 Base Sidewall 718 Lidlatching abutment 720 Lid sidewall 722 Interior region 724 Upper surface726 Latch 728 Aperture 730 Product containing space 732 Actuator portion734 First leg 736 Second leg 738 Base latching abutment 740 Body 742Space 744 Package 746 First shell portion 748 Second shell portion 750Insert 752 Hinge 754 Latch 756 Base sidewall 758 Inner region 760 Lidlatching abutment 762 Product containing space 764 Aperture 766 Secondattachment member 768 Actuator portion 770 Spring 772 Leg 774 Opening776 Base latching abutment 778 Protrusion 780 Insert 782 Latch 784Bottom 786 Product containing spaces 788 Opening 790 Tab 792 Guide 794Latching abutment 796 Actuator portion 798 Spring 800 Leg opening 802Slot 804 End region 806 Front portion 808 First leg 810 Second leg 812Intermediate portion 814 Package 816 First shell portion 818 Secondshell portion 820 Insert 822 Gasket 824 Base 826 Base sidewall 828Opening 830 Lid sidewall 832 Guide post 834 Lid closed lip 836 Actuatorportion 838 Central region 840 Upper surface 842 Inner wall 844 Productcontaining space 846 Access opening 848 Cover 850 Hinge 852 Upperportion 854 Lower portion 856 Space 858 Groove 860 Spring 862 Aperture864 Dispenser opening 866 Package 868 First shell portion 870 Secondshell portion 872 Hinge 874 Insert 876 Inner wall member 878 Gasket 880Base 882 Base sidewall 884 Opening 886 Lid sidewall 888 Second closedlip 890 Catch 892 Catch aperture 894 Insert base 896 Insert wall 898Product containing space 900 Cover 902 Gasket base 904 Gasket wall 906Inner surface 908 Outer surface 910 Gasket lip 912 First protrusion 914Recess (of gasket 878) 916 Recess (of second closed lip 888) 918 Firstsurface 920 Second surface 922 Latch 924 Second protrusion 926 Recess(of inner wall member 876) 928 Actuator portion 930 Latching abutment932 Leg 934 First end 936 Second end 938 Body 940 Aperture 942Protrusion (of latching abutment 930) 944 Upper surface 946 Space 948Package 950 Latch 952 Insert 954 First shell portion 956 Tab 958 Spring960 Rib 962 Package 964 First member 966 Second member 968 Second shellportion 970 Insert 972 First shell portion 974 Base sidewall 976 Base978 Openings 980 Package 982 Lid 984 Sleeve 986 Container 988 Topportion 990 Lid wall 992 Closed lip 994 Base 996 Sidewall (of sleeve984) 998 Opening (of sleeve 984) 1000 Interior region 1002 Sidewall (ofcontainer 986) 1004 Base (of container 986) 1006 Product containingspace 1008 Upper region 1010 Container opening 1012 Slot 1014 Slidebutton 1016 Groove 1018 Spring 1020 Package 1022 Base 1024 Lid 1026Button 1028 Base sidewall 1030 Base shoulder 1032 Product containingspace 1034 First orifice 1036 Outer peripheral surface 1038 Lid sidewall1040 Top portion 1042 Lid closed lip 1044 Lid shoulder 1046 Secondorifice 1048 First side 1050 Second side 1052 Sleeve 1054 Insert 1056Product containing space 1058 Slide assembly 1060 Dispenser receptacle1062 Secondary insert 1064 First sidewall 1066 Inner opening 1068 Mouth1070 Lever 1072 Slide opening 1074 Spring 1076 Track 1078 Outer slidewall 1080 Cover 1082 Slot 1084 Insert 1086 Push button assembly 1088Cover 1090 Product containing space 1092 Dispenser receptacle 1094Secondary insert 1096 Mouth 1098 Opening (of dispenser receptacle 1092)1100 Button 1102 Spring 1104 Orifice 1106 Dispenser opening 1108 Sleeve1110 Insert 1112 Push button assembly 1114 Ramp 1116 Product containingspace 1118 Dispenser receptacle 1120 Secondary insert 1122 Sidewall 1124Mouth 1126 Base 1128 Spaces 1130 Opening 1132 Receptacle sidewall 1134Inner wall 1136 Spring 1138 Tab 1140 Cover 1142 Aperture 1144 Protrusion1146 Extension member 1148 Button 1150 Bottom (of button 1148) 1152Dispenser opening

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described more fully with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which several embodiments are shown. Thisinvention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and shouldnot be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth here. Rather,these embodiments are examples of the invention, which has the fullscope indicated by the language of the claims. Like numbers refer tolike elements throughout.

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, a package 40 is shown having the followingcommon features in the illustrated embodiments: a first shell portion42, a second shell portion 44, a hinge 56, and a latch 58. A package isbroadly defined here to be a package having two portions or leaves thatare releasably joined so they can be closed or opened. The two portionsor leaves do not need to be congruent, or the same size, or havematching edges to be a package as defined here.

In the illustrated embodiments, the first shell portion 42 has a firstperipheral portion 46 and a second peripheral portion 48, and the secondshell portion 44 has a first peripheral portion 50 and a secondperipheral portion 52. The second peripheral portions 48 and 52 are theentire perimeters of the shell portions 42 and 44, except for the firstperipheral portions 46 and 50.

In the illustrated embodiments, the second peripheral portion 52 of theshell portion 44 includes a first latching abutment 54 that is engagedor disengaged by the latch 58 as described below. In the illustratedembodiments, a hinge 56 joins the first shell portion 42 and secondshell portion 44 at their first portions 46 and 50, defining a clamshellpackage. Hinges and hinged portions, however, are not essential and notnecessary to carry out any embodiment of any invention disclosed in thisspecification. For example, in place of the hinge 56, the first andsecond shell portions 42 and 44 may have two or more hooks or anotherlatch between their respective first peripheral portions 46 or 50 toreleasably engage the first and second shell portions 42 and 44.

In the illustrated embodiments, a latch 58 can be provided for latchingthe second portions 48 and 52 of the first shell portion 42 and secondshell portion 44 together. The illustrated latch 58 includes a first leg60 and a second leg 62, an actuator portion 64, and a second latchingabutment 66. The first and second legs 60 and 62 are joined at an angle(which is for example 90 degrees and/or corresponds to the respectiveangle between a side edge of the second shell portion 44 and the frontedge of the second shell portion), and the first leg 60 is secured tothe first shell portion 42.

In the illustrated embodiments, an actuator portion 64 of the first leg60 is positioned to be displaced generally laterally (in the directionindicated as “L” in FIGS. 1 through 3A) by a user's finger to displacethe second leg 62 generally longitudinally from a latched position,illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, to a released position, illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 5. In the illustrated embodiments, the actuator portion 64can be displaced laterally by pushing it inward with one's finger. Inthis embodiment the lateral displacement of the actuator portion isperpendicular to the first leg 60 (the first leg 60 extends in thedirection indicated as “V” in FIGS. 1 though 3A), and thus alsoperpendicular to the side edge of the second shell portion 44, andparallel to the front edge of the second shell portion 44, since thesecond leg is arranged parallel to the front edge of the second shellportion 44 and since the angle between the two legs is 90 degrees.Optionally, as shown in FIGS. 2, 2A, 3, and 3A, a resilient element,such as the leaf spring 106, can be provided that resists thisdisplacement and biases the actuator portion 64 toward its latchedposition. In the illustrated embodiments, the leaf spring 106 optionallybears against a portion of the insert 78 (a side wall defining recess110, described below, in the illustrated embodiments), resilientlyresisting the advance of the actuator portion 64.

In the illustrated embodiments, a second latching abutment 66 is securedto the second leg 62. The second latching abutment 66 in the illustratedembodiments is configured to engage the first latching abutment 54 whenthe second leg 62 is in its latched position, illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2,and 4, and to release the first latching abutment 54 when the second leg62 is in its released position, illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5.Optionally, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a leaf spring 108, can beprovided that functions like the leaf spring 106.

In addition to the common and optional features in the illustratedembodiments, the package 40 illustrated in the Figures can have any oneor more of numerous additional optional features. Zero, one, or morethan one of these optional features can be employed, whetherindividually or in any combination.

A first optional feature of the embodiments of FIGS. 1-5 is that thefirst and second shell portions 42 and 44 can have mating peripheraledges 68 and 70. Mating peripheral edges are defined as peripheral edgesthat are generally congruent and registered when the package 40 isclosed.

A second optional feature of the embodiments of FIGS. 1-5 is that a lipseal arrangement can be provided to isolate the interior of the package40 from the exterior environment when the package 40 is closed. Forexample, the package 40 can include a first closed lip 72 on the firstshell portion 42 defining an enclosure 74, and a mating second closedlip 76 on the second shell portion 44. The second closed lip 76 can bepositioned to engage the first closed lip 72 and seal the enclosure 74from the ambient air outside the enclosure 74 when the first shellportion 42 and second shell portion 44 are latched. “Closed loop” meansthat a lip is endless or continuous, like a ring. The loop can be round,oval, rectangular with rounded corners, irregular, or have some othershape.

A third optional feature of the embodiments of FIGS. 1-5 is that aninsert 78 can be provided as part of the first shell portion, definingthe first closed lip 72 and joined to the remainder 104 of the firstshell portion 42. The insert 78 illustrated in FIG. 1 can take the formof a tray 78 having a recess 110 located within the closed lip 72 anddefined by a sidewall 112. The recess can define a sealed portion of thecontainer. The tray 78 also can include a peripheral flange 114 locatedoutside the closed lip 72. In the illustrated embodiments, theperipheral flange 114 conceals most of the latches 58 and 88 butincludes apertures 116 and 118 to allow engagement between the first andsecond latching abutments 54 and 66, and between the third and fourthlatching abutments 86 and 98.

A fourth optional feature of the embodiments of FIGS. 1-5 is that atleast a portion of the latch 58 and at least a portion of the latch 88can be positioned between the flange 114 of the insert 78 and the firstshell portion 42. This conceals the latches 58 and 88, while providingthe sidewall 112 that acts as a bearing surface against which the secondand fourth legs 62 and 92 or the leaf springs 106 and 108 can bear tobias the latches 58 and 88 toward their latched positions. It should beunderstood that the second latch 88 and the structure it engages are notessential or necessary, as a single latch can alternatively be providedto adequately latch the container closed. For example, the single latch88 can be modified to carry both the second and fourth abutments 66 and98, which can be modified so both latch in the same direction.

A fifth optional feature of the embodiments of FIGS. 1-5 is that abending ramp 80 can be positioned to be engaged by the second leg 62 forbending the second leg 62 into contact with a biasing abutment 82 whenthe second leg 62 is displaced generally longitudinally from the latchedposition (shown for example in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4) toward the releasedposition (shown for example in FIGS. 3 and 5). In the illustratedembodiments, the bending ramp 80 is a bent portion of the fourth leg 92,which has the advantage that the bending ramp 80 moves to the rightwhile the second leg 62 moves to the left as the latches 58 and 88 movein opposite directions toward their respective unlatched positions. Therelative movement of the two latches doubles their passing rate,compared to the rate of travel of either latch relative to fixedstructure, doubling the bending rate of the second leg 62.

A sixth optional feature of the embodiments of FIGS. 1-5 is that thefirst leg 60 can be secured to the first shell portion 42 by a pivot 84.The provision of a pivot 84 allows a user to displace the actuatorportion 64 to pivot the first leg 60 relative to the first shell portion42. Alternatively, the pivot 84 can be replaced by a fixed attachmentpoint or a bearing point, either of which would provide another, or analternative, biasing force to bias the latch 58 toward its latchedposition, assuming the first leg 60 is resilient.

An seventh optional feature of the embodiments of FIGS. 1-5 is that thecontainer latching arrangement can further include a third latchingabutment 86 and a second latch 88. The third latching abutment 86 can beprovided on either one of the first and second shell portions 42 and 44.The second latch 88 can be provided for releasably latching the secondportions 48 and 52 of the first shell portion 42 and second shellportion 44 together.

An eighth optional feature of the embodiments of FIGS. 1-5 is that thesecond latch 88 can include third and fourth legs 90 and 92, an actuatorportion 94, and a fourth latching abutment 88. The third and fourth legs90 and 92 can be joined at an angle, as illustrated here. The third leg90 can be secured to the other of the first and second shell portions 42and 44 relative to the third latching abutment 86. The actuator portion94 of the third leg 90 can be positioned to be displaced generallylaterally by a user's finger. Displacing the actuator portion 94 of thethird leg 90 in the illustrated embodiments displaces the fourth leg 92generally longitudinally from a latched position to a released position.

The fourth latching abutment 88 can be secured to the fourth leg 92. Thefourth latching abutment 88 can be configured, as shown in theillustrated embodiments, to engage the third latching abutment 86 whenthe fourth leg 92 is in its latched position. The fourth latchingabutment 88 can be configured, as shown in the illustrated embodiments,to release the third latching abutment 86 when the fourth leg 92 is inits released position.

A ninth optional feature of the embodiments of FIGS. 1-5 is that theactuator portions 64 and 94 of the first and third legs 60 and 90 can bespaced at least five cm apart, optionally at least six cm apart,optionally at least seven cm apart, optionally at least 8 cm apart,optionally at least 9 cm apart, optionally at least 10 cm apart.

A tenth optional feature of the embodiments of FIGS. 1-5 is that theactuator portions 64 and 94 of the first and third legs 60 and 90optionally can be arranged so they must be actuated simultaneously tounlatch the second portions 48 and 52 of the first shell portion 42 andsecond shell portion 44.

The ninth and tenth optional features, or either one of them, can beemployed to provide a child resistant but elder friendly package 40.Desirably for this purpose, the actuator portions 64 and 94 are farenough apart that a small child who should not have access to thecontents of the package 40 will find it difficult or impossible tooperate both simultaneously with one hand. Desirably, the actuatorportions 64 and 94 are close enough together that an adult who shouldhave access to the contents of the package 40, including an elderlyperson, will find it possible, preferably easy to operate both actuatorportions 64 and 94 simultaneously with one hand to open the package.

As an eleventh optional child-resistant feature, the embodiments ofFIGS. 1-5 does not have an opening spring, strut, or the like to openthe package automatically when it is unlatched. When the latches 58 and88 are disengaged, the second shell portion 44, which in this case isthe lid, does not spring open automatically; the second shell portion 44must be lifted manually to open the package. For this purpose, the firstshell portion 42 has an indentation coinciding with the bending ramp 96,and the second peripheral portion 52 of the second shell portion 44bridges the indentation.

The user can lift the section of the second peripheral portion 52bridging the indentation of the closed package 40, when the latches 58and 88 are released, to open the package 40 and have access to itscontents. This is a child-resistant feature because, in normaloperation, both actuator portions 64 and 94 are engaged with one handand the second shell portion 44 is lifted with the other. The user'shand must be large enough to engage the two actuator portions 64 and 94at the same time to open the package. Yet, opening the package 40 doesnot require complex movement, such as grasping and twisting one partrelative to another, and can easily be designed by controlling thenecessary biasing force so it does not require great strength to open.

A twelfth optional feature of the embodiments of FIGS. 1-5 is that thesecond and fourth legs 62 and 92 optionally can be positioned generallyparallel while in their latched positions. “Generally parallel” meansthat a majority of the length of the respective legs runs side by sideat approximately the same distance apart along their mutual lengths whenthe package is latched. As will be understood from this specification,the legs need not remain parallel when the package 40 is unlatched, aspart of their respective motion is lateral.

A thirteenth optional feature of the embodiments of FIGS. 1-5 is thatthe second and fourth legs 62 and 92 optionally can be positioned to bedisplaced generally longitudinally in opposite directions from theirlatched positions to their released positions.

A fourteenth optional feature of the embodiments of FIGS. 1-5 is thatbending ramps 80 and optionally 96 can be positioned to be engaged byone or optionally both of the second and fourth legs 62 and 92 forbending the engaged leg 62 or 92 into contact with a biasing abutment 98or 100 when the engaged leg 62 or 92 is displaced generallylongitudinally from the latched position toward the released position.

In the illustrated embodiments, both of the second and fourth legs 62and 92 engage a bending ramp, respectively the bending ramp 80 definedby the fourth leg 92 and the bending ramp 96 defined by an indentationof the wall defining the second portion 48 of the first shell portion42. This juxtaposition of two bending ramps increases the lateraldisplacement of the second leg 62 when the package 40 is unlatched,which can be explained as follows. Engaging the bending ramp 96 with thefourth leg 92 displaces the fourth leg 92, and thus the bending ramp 80,laterally inward with respect to the package, also displacing the secondleg 62 laterally inward. Engaging the bending ramp 80 with the secondleg 62 further displaces the second leg 62 further laterally inward.This provides a movement comparable to a compound lever. Optionally,just the second leg 62 will bear against the sidewall 112, or optionallyor additionally against the wall of the aperture 116, to produce abiasing force tending to resist unlatching.

A fifteenth optional feature of the embodiments of FIGS. 1-5 is one wayfor biasing the actuator portion toward its latched position. A firstbending ramp 80 can be provided that is positioned to be engaged by thesecond leg 62 for bending the second leg 62 into contact with a firstbiasing abutment 82 when the second leg 62 is displaced generallylongitudinally from its latched position toward its released position.

In a sixteenth, optional elaboration of this mechanism, a second bendingramp 96 can be provided and positioned to be engaged by the fourth leg92 for bending the fourth leg 92 into contact with a second biasingabutment 100 when the fourth leg 92 is displaced generallylongitudinally from its latched position toward its released position.

A seventeenth optional feature of the embodiments of FIGS. 1-5 is thatthe first leg 60 can be secured to the first shell portion 42 by a firstpivot 84, and the third leg 90 also can be secured to the first shellportion 42 by a second pivot 102.

Referring to FIGS. 6-20, a package 120 includes a base shell 122, a lidshell 124, an integral hinge 126, a first closure 128, and a secondclosure 130. The can be manufactured by different processes depending onthe specifics of the design. In the illustrated embodiments, the baseshell 122, lid shell 124, integral hinge 126, and closures 128 and 130are formed as a single injection molded part 120, molded in one shot inone mold. In alternative embodiments, one or more components or portionscan be formed separately and joined to form a one-piece package, or therespective components can be formed in more than one mold or more thanone shot. The package also can be blow molded or thermoformed.

The base shell 122 has inside and outside surfaces 132 and 134. It hasat least a first base well, and here five base wells 136, 138, 140, 142,and 144, on the inside surface 132. The wells are formed by depressionsin the base shell 122. In the illustrated embodiment, each base wellsuch as 136 is defined by an upstanding wall 146 extending from the baseshell 122 to the generally flat marginal sealing surface and encirclingthe well such as 136. In the illustrated embodiment, the upstandingwalls 146 and 148 of at least two adjacent base wells, and here of allfive illustrated base wells, are spaced apart, defining a gap such as150 between them.

In the illustrated embodiment, the base wells 136-144, and moreparticularly the upstanding walls such as 146 and 148, reinforce thebase shell 122 against deformation. This reinforcement is useful tostiffen the base shell 122 against bending, thus keeping its contentsmore secure against access to the contents of the base wells 136-144 byprying or otherwise bending the base shell 122 while the package 120 isclosed and the closures 128-131 are engaged.

In the illustrated embodiment, the base wells such as 136 have a length(measured along the longer upstanding walls such as 146 and 148) andwidth (measured along the shorter upstanding walls such as 152 and 154)generally parallel to the generally flat marginal sealing surface156-164 of the base shell 122 and a depth generally perpendicular to thegenerally flat marginal sealing surface 156-164 of the base shell 122.

In the illustrated embodiment the marginal sealing surface 156-164 is adiscontinuous surface defined by the generally coplanar marginal sealingsurfaces 156, 158, 160, 162, and 164 of the respective base wells 136,138, 140, 142, and 144) of the base shell 122. In an alternativeembodiment, the facing upstanding walls such as 148 and 166 between twowells can be merged, thus reducing or eliminating the gaps such as 150and potentially joining the portions of the marginal sealing surface156-164 to form a single, continuous sealing surface 156-164.

In an alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 16, a base well is formed bya corrugation 168 in the base shell 122. In the corrugated structure,the inside surface 132 and the outside surface 134 both undulate.

In the illustrated embodiment, the base wells 136-144 have lengths atleast three times as great as their widths, and as illustrated roughlytwenty times as great as their widths.

The lid shell 124 also has inside and outside surfaces 172 and 174. Ithas at least first and second lid wells, and here five lid wells 176,178, 180, 182, and 184, on the inside surface 172. The wells can beformed by depressions in the lid shell 124. In the illustratedembodiment, each lid well such as 176 is defined by an upstanding wall186 extending from the lid shell 124 to the generally flat marginalsealing surface and encircling the well such as 176. In the illustratedembodiment, the upstanding walls 186 and 188 of at least two adjacentlid wells, and here of all five illustrated lid wells, are spaced apart,defining a gap such as 190 between them.

In the illustrated embodiment, the lid wells 176-184, and moreparticularly the upstanding walls such as 186 and 188, reinforce the lidshell 124 against deformation. This reinforcement is useful to stiffenthe lid shell 124 against bending, thus keeping its contents more secureagainst access to the contents of the lid wells 176-184 by prying orotherwise bending the lid shell 124 while the package 20 is closed andthe closures 128-131 are engaged.

In the illustrated embodiment, the lid wells such as 176 have a length(measured along the longer upstanding walls such as 186 and 188) andwidth (measured along the shorter upstanding walls such as 192 and 194)generally parallel to the generally flat marginal sealing surface196-204 of the lid shell 124 and a depth generally perpendicular to thegenerally flat marginal sealing surface 196-204 of the lid shell 124.

In the illustrated embodiment the marginal sealing surface 196-204 is adiscontinuous surface defined by the generally coplanar marginal sealingsurfaces 196, 198, 200, 202, and 204 of the respective lid wells 176,178, 180, 182, and 184) of the lid shell 124. In an alternativeembodiment, the facing upstanding walls such as 198 and 206 between twowells can be merged, thus reducing or eliminating the gaps such as 190and potentially joining the portions of the marginal sealing surface196-204 to form a single, continuous sealing surface 196-204.

In the illustrated embodiment, the lid wells 176-184 have lengths atleast three times as great as their widths, and as illustrated roughlytwenty times as great as their widths.

In the illustrated embodiment, the portions of the base shell 122 andthe lid shell 124 separating the base wells 136-144 from the outside ofthe container are each at least 0.5 mm thick, alternatively at least 0.8mm thick, alternatively at least 1 mm thick, alternatively at least 2 mmthick, and can be thick enough to provide a sufficient barrier layer andseal against the passage of moisture, oxygen, or both to meet the needsof particular articles carried in the wells. The shells can be made, forexample, from polyethylene or polypropylene.

The integral hinge 126 joins the base shell 122 and lid shell 124. Thehinge 126 allows the base shell 122 and lid shell 124 to close togetherin fashion. A non-integral hinge can also optionally be used, though itmight add to the cost of manufacture.

The package 120 has at least one closure, and in this embodiment hastwo. When the package 120 is closed, the marginal sealing surfaces ofthe lid shell 124 and base shell 122 are facing and adjacent to eachother, as shown in FIG. 12, preventing access to the wells. The closure,and in this instance the first closure 128-129 and the second closure130-131, releasably secure the base shell 122 to the lid shell 124 whenclosed.

The first closure 128-129 comprises at least a first upward-facing lidabutment 210 (see FIGS. 7 and 13) secured to the lid shell 124 and atleast a first downward-facing base abutment 212 of the first closuredetent 128 secured to the base shell 122 and normally bearing againstthe lid abutment 210 when the package 120 is closed (as shown in FIG.2). In an alternative embodiment, the first closure can be centrallylocated and a single closure can be used to secure the package 120.

The first downward-facing base abutment 212 is resiliently mounted tothe corresponding (base) shell 122, as is best seen by reference to FIG.9. The detent 128 is mounted to a resilient tab 214 on its proximalportion 216. The distal portion 218 of the resilient tab is offset inthis embodiment to increase the amount the tab 214 can be deflecteddownward (with reference to the orientation of FIG. 9) without touchingthe remainder of the package 120.

The first downward-facing base abutment 212 carried on the tab 214 isnormally biased to the as-molded position shown in the Figures, at whichit engages the first upward-facing lid abutment 210 (see FIGS. 7 and 13)secured to the lid shell 124, so the detent 128 is inserted into theaperture 129. The first downward-facing base abutment 212 is resilientlydeflectable against its bias, in this case toward the remainder of thepackage 120, to disengage the first upward-facing lid abutment 210,releasing the first closure 128 by removing the detent 128 from theaperture 129.

The second closure 130-131 comprises at least a second upward-facing lidabutment 220 (see FIGS. 7 and 13) secured to the lid shell 124 and asecond downward-facing base abutment 212 of the second closure detent130 secured to the base shell 122 and normally bearing against the lidabutment 220 when the package 120 is closed.

The second downward-facing base abutment on the detent 130 isresiliently mounted to the corresponding (base) shell 122, as is bestseen by reference to FIG. 9. The detent 130 is mounted to a resilienttab 222 on its proximal portion 224. The distal portion 226 of theresilient tab 222 is offset in this embodiment to increase the amountthe tab 222 can be deflected upward (with reference to the orientationof FIG. 9) without touching the remainder of the package 120. The secondclosure 130-131 functions in the same manner as the first closure128-129 as described above.

The first closure 128 is spaced from the second closure 130. In theillustrated embodiment, the first and second closures 128-129 and130-131 normally must be operated at least substantially simultaneouslyto open the package 120. The resiliently mounted abutments of the firstand second closures are operable, as by pinching the distal portions 218and 226 with a finger and the thumb of one hand, to release the closuresby urging the resiliently mounted abutment of one closure toward theresiliently mounted abutment of another closure. While the distalportions 218 and 226 are pinched inward using one hand, the thumb tab228 can be engaged to open the package. The need to manipulate tworesilient tabs and a thumb tab on different parts of the package 120renders the closure child-resistant, but still relatively easy to openfor an adult having a larger hand span than a young child.

The package 120 as illustrated in FIG. 14 includes a sealing sheet 230adhered to the generally flat marginal sealing surfaces 156-164encircling the base wells 136-144 to hermetically seal the individualbase wells. The sealing sheet can be attached, for example, byultrasonic welding, solvent welding, heat sealing, an adhesive, or otherexpedients, including those known in the art. The package 120 asillustrated in FIG. 14 also includes a sealing sheet 232 adhered to thegenerally flat marginal sealing surfaces 196-204 encircling the lidwells 176-184 to hermetically seal the individual lid wells. Optionally,the sealed wells can be “moisture-tight,” which is defined below.

If no seal is required in a given instance, then the flexible film doesnot need to have the barrier and sealing properties to provide a seal.For example, a paper seal can be used. In another embodiment, the designof the pockets can be such as to restrain the product in the package sono flexible film is required

The flexible film material can be formed in a way that allows onecompartment at a time to be opened. The sealing sheets 230 and 232optionally can be weakened, cut, or perforated, for example betweenadjacent wells, as at the cuts 234-240 of the sheet 230 and the cuts242-248 of the sheet 232, to define separately removable strips such as270 (between two adjacent cuts such as 234 and 236) that can beindividually removed to unseal or open one well without unsealing oropening an adjacent well. To access the product, the consumer would peelaway the flexible film material exposing one of the compartments.Additionally or instead, a tool could be used to open the compartments.Another option is to provide a pull tab that has a string or othermaterial that is pulled through the flexible film covering a well,opening the compartment.

In various embodiments, the sheets 230 and 232 can originally be twoseparate sheets or portions of one sheet that bridges the integralhinge. The bridging web of the sheet can either be removed or left inplace.

An embodiment of another aspect of the invention is a method of fillingthe package 120 with a product. Pieces of the product, for example thestick-shaped product pieces 252-268 shown in FIG. 14 in cross-section,are placed in the base and lid wells 136-144 and 176-184. The wells136-144 and 176-184 of the base shell 122 and lid shell 124 are coveredwith cover sheets 230 and 232 to close them. The cover sheets 230 and232 are sealed to the generally flat marginal sealing surfaces 156-164and 196-204 to seal the wells 136-144 and 176-184. Portions of the coversheets 230 and 232 between two wells are weakened or cut at the cuts234-240 of the sheet 230 and the cuts 242-248 of the sheet 232 to formstrips such as 270 of the cover sheet between two cuts. In anembodiment, each strip such as 270 of the cover sheet covers one well,although alternatively they could cover more than one well per strip270, as when the objects to be dispensed are pharmaceutical tablets andthe recommended dose is two tablets at a time. In an embodiment, eachstrip is removable separately from one or more adjacent strips of thecover sheet covering different wells.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 15, in which thewells such as 272 are generally circular and provided in two offsetlines in the lid 274, and also in the base 276. This embodiment can beused for tablets or disk-shaped or coiled dosage forms or other objects.The illustrated wells of the lid and base do not intersect when thepackage is closed. One utility for offset base and lid wells is to allowa pull tab or other structure for opening each base well to project intothe space between the offset lid wells, and vice versa. Alternatively,the offset wells of the lid and base could interleave, so the base wellsfaced and projected into a portion of the lid between two lid wells, andvice versa.

FIG. 16 is a detail view of another embodiment of the package, showing acorrugated shell wall for the base shell 122, which could also be usedfor the lid shell 124. In this embodiment, both the inside and outsidesurfaces 132, 134, are corrugated.

FIGS. 17 and 18 show an additional embodiment of the invention, againincluding a base shell 280 and a lid shell 282. In this embodiment, aperimeter seal 283 has been incorporated into the clamshell, comprisinga lip 284 of the base shell 280 and a lip 286 of the lid shell 282. Thelips can form a lip-to-lip butt seal, or the lips can be concentricsurfaces having matching tapers, so the sides of the respective lipsengage. Optionally, the perimeter seal 283 can be “moisture-tight,”which is defined below. In a further embodiment, the perimeter seal maybe re-sealable; upon opening and closing of the clam shell package, themoisture-tight seal is re-established. For example, the package can bedesigned to be moisture tight at least until it has been opened thenumber of times necessary to access all the wells in the package, one ata time.

FIGS. 19 and 20 show still another embodiment, which can be used as ablister package holder or outer package. The lips 284 and 286 can beconcentric surfaces having matching tapers forming a perimeter seal 283,also shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, though this is an optional feature forFIGS. 19-20. FIGS. 19 and 20 also show a base shell 290 and a lid shell292, respectively supporting and attached to blister sheets 294 and 296sealed to cover sheets 298 and 300. It is useful to permanently securethe blister sheets 294 and 296 within the package, so thechild-resistant closure cannot be circumvented by removing the blisterpack from the outer package before dispensing its contents.

The outer package of FIG. 17-18 or 19-20 can be molded as a single piecewith an integral hinge and child-resistant closure. In theseembodiments, the flexible film optionally does not need to provide anysealing, which would allow for more flexibility in its design andmaterials. For example a simple, inexpensive paper based material couldbe used to close off the compartments while the perimeter seal providesthe sealing function.

In various embodiments of the invention when a seal is required thewells or other package elements optionally can include a material toremove gases that the product needs to be protected from. This agentcould be added separately to the wells or made as an integral part ofthe base shell and/or lid shell. For example, a multi material moldingprocess could be used to mold one material for the body and a second,joined material in the form of a polymer or plastic material with anactive agent entrained within it.

One example of the active agent entrained plastic is a three componentcomposition and method that is disclosed in one or more of the followingU.S. Pat. Nos. 5,911,937, 6,214,255, 6,130,263, 6,174,952, 6,613,405 and6,124,006 incorporated by reference herein. Another example is a twocomponent mixture of active agent and polymer.

In one example a desiccant may be used as the active agent in theentrained polymer. The desiccant can be used to remove moisture from theproduct and/or the packaged environment. A desiccant can be selected tomaintain a specific range of relative humidity. In one example, amolecular sieve desiccant can be used to maintain a relative humidity ofless than 10%. In another example, a silica gel desiccant can be used tomaintain the relative humidity in the ranges of 10-30% RH (relativehumidity) or 30-50% RH or 40-60% RH. The relative humidity can becontrolled, for example, by the amount of silica gel incorporated intothe polymer.

Other active agents are optionally contemplated, such as oxygenabsorbers or materials that release a preservative agent. These can alsobe incorporated into a three component composition described above aswell as a two component composition.

In certain embodiments, a dosage form of a product is provided in atleast one of the base or lid wells. The product can be an extruded stickof a composition, a rolled sheet of a composition, a portion of a leaf,ground material and a binding agent, a lozenge, a tablet, a plug,combinations of these types (such as a rolled portion of a leaf), orother forms, without limitation.

As used herein, the term “moisture-tight” in reference to a package,individual well, or other container is defined as follows.

For a complete package having perimeter sealing, “moisture tight” meansthe moisture ingress into the package is less than about 2500 microgramsof water per day, in another embodiment about 2000 micrograms of waterper day, in another embodiment about 1500 micrograms of water per day,in another embodiment about 1000 micrograms of water per day, in anotherembodiment about 500 micrograms of water per day, in a furtherembodiment about 300 micrograms of water per day, in yet anotherembodiment about 150 micrograms of water per day, determined by thefollowing test method: (a) place approximately one gram of molecularsieve in the container and record the weight; (b) close and seal thecontainer; (c) place the sealed container in an environmental chamber atconditions of 80% relative humidity and 22 deg. C. (72 deg. F.); (c)after one day, weigh the container containing the molecular sieve; (d)after approximately two weeks, weigh the container; (e) subtract thefirst day sample from the value obtained and divide by the number ofdays to calculate the moisture ingress of the container in units ofmicrograms of water per day.

For an individual well of a package, “moisture tight” means the moistureingress into an individual sealed well is less than about 750 microgramsof water per day, in another embodiment about 500 micrograms of waterper day, in another embodiment about 250 micrograms of water per day, inanother embodiment about 150 micrograms of water per day, in anotherembodiment about 100 micrograms of water per day, determined by thefollowing test method: (a) place approximately 0.2 gram of molecularsieve (more or less, depending on the well size) in the container andrecord the weight; (b) close and seal the well and close the container;(c) place the sealed container in an environmental chamber at conditionsof 80% relative humidity and 22 deg. C. (72 deg. F.); (c) after one day,weigh the package containing the molecular sieve; (d) afterapproximately two weeks, weigh the package; (e) subtract the first daysample from the value obtained and divide by the number of days tocalculate the moisture ingress of the package in units of micrograms ofwater per day. The test for a multi-well package can be conducted on anindividual well, on all of them, or on any number of wells in betweenone and all.

Referring now to FIGS. 21-23, a child-resistant container generallyindicated as 330 is disclosed comprising a shell or housing cover 332,two drawers or product trays 334 and 336, a stop defined by abutments338 and 340, and a latch, here defined by the first latch 342 and secondlatch 344.

The shell 332 optionally can have opposed first and second draweropenings 346 and 348. The shell 332 can define a longitudinal passage350 from the first drawer opening 346 to the second drawer opening 348.In the illustrated embodiment, the shell 332 further can define a firstside opening 352, and in this embodiment also a second side opening 354,providing access to the longitudinal passage from outside the shell 332.

The first drawer 334 is slidably received in the longitudinal passage350 and projects through the first drawer opening 346 when the firstdrawer 334 is opened, and also, in another embodiment, a little bit whenthe drawer is closed. In the illustrated embodiment, the first drawer334 optionally can have its first drawer abutment 340 facing the firstopening 350. The first drawer 334 has a gasket 356 and a storage area358 for containing objects kept in the container 330.

The second drawer 336 is slidably received in the longitudinal passage350, relatively movable with respect to the first drawer 334, andprojects through the second drawer opening 348 when the second drawer isopened and also, in another embodiment, a little bit when the drawer isclosed. In the illustrated embodiment, each drawer 334, 336 is identicalin shape and function.

The stop defined by the abutments 338 and 340 is located within thepassage 350. It is configured to engage the first and second drawers334, 336 to prevent the first and second drawers from sliding apart pasta limit of travel, with respect to the shell. The limit of travel isreached when either of the first and second drawers is open sufficientlyto provide access to its contents and the other drawer is closedsufficiently to prevent access to its contents.

In the illustrated embodiment, the stop comprises an abutment 336 of thefirst drawer 334 facing the first opening 346 and an abutment 340 of thesecond drawer 336 facing the second opening 348, the first and secondabutments 338 and 340 engaging to define the stop when the drawers 334,336 are moved apart. In the illustrated embodiment, at least one of theabutments 338 and 340, and in this instance each of them, is connectedto the corresponding drawer 334 or 336 by a link 360 of one drawer 334extending toward the other drawer 336 and vice versa the link 362 of theother drawer 336. In the illustrated embodiment, the stop optionally canhave a first portion 360 associated with the first drawer 334 and asecond portion 362 associated with the second drawer 336. The stop couldalternatively be the first and second portions engaged with each other,as illustrated, or the first and second portions engaged with a portionof the shell, or the first and second portions engaged with a portion ofthe latch, in alternative embodiments.

The latch, here defined by the first latch 342 and the second latch 344,is normally biased, here by the resilience of the first and second pushbutton gaskets 364 and 366 deformed against the shell 332, to latch andseal the first and second drawers 334, 336 closed as illustrated inFIGS. 21-24. The latch such as 342 is operable against its normal biasto unlatch at least one drawer 334 or 336. In the illustratedembodiment, the latch comprises a first latch 342 engaging the firstdrawer 334 and a second latch 44 engaging the second drawer 336.Alternatively, a one-part latch can be devised for engaging both drawers334, 336, either simultaneously or alternatively. The first latch 342optionally can have a first latch abutment 368 facing the first draweropening 346, and the first latch 342 includes part of an unlatchingmechanism described below, which in this embodiment is a ramp 370, andin this embodiment more precisely a pair of ramps 370 and 372, on thelatch 342.

In this embodiment, the first and second latches 342 and 344 are atleast partially within the longitudinal passage 350 and respectivelyaccessible through the first and second side openings 352 and 354,respectively for unlatching the first and second drawers 334, 336. Thesecond latch 344 optionally can have a second latch abutment 374 facingthe first drawer opening 346.

In the illustrated embodiment the latch 344 is operated using a pushbutton, here opposed push buttons 376 and 378.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second latches 342 and 344are identical in shape.

Each drawer 334, 336 and the corresponding latch 342, 344 define anunlatching mechanism 380, 382. In the illustrated embodiment, theunlatching mechanism 380, 382 includes a ramp 370 or 372 on the latch342 or 344 and a ramp (here, the ramps 384 and 386) on a link 388projecting from the drawer 334 that engage to deflect the drawerabutment 390 transversely away (behind the plane of FIG. 24) from thelatch abutment 368.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first drawer abutment 390 and firstlatch abutment 368 are positioned to engage each other when the firstdrawer 334 is closed and the latch 342 is normally biased to latch thefirst drawer 334 closed. Similarly in this embodiment, the second drawerabutment 392 and second latch abutment 374 are positioned to engage eachother when the second drawer 336 is closed and the latch 344 is normallybiased to latch the second drawer 336 closed.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second latches 342 and 344are configured to unlatch by traveling transversely toward each otherwithin the passage 350, disengaging one of the first and second drawerabutments 390, 392 from the corresponding latch abutment 368 or 374 whenboth latches 342 and 344 are operated.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first drawer 334 and the latch 342are configured to unlatch the first drawer 334 only when both pushingthe first drawer 334 further closed to engage an unlatching mechanism380 and operating the latch 334 to unlatch the first drawer 334. In theillustrated embodiment, the second drawer 342 and the latch 344similarly are configured to unlatch the second drawer 336 only when bothpushing the second drawer 336 further closed to engage a secondunlatching mechanism 382 and operating the latch 344 to unlatch thesecond drawer.

The unlatching mechanism such as 380 of the present embodiment works asfollows.

In the illustrated embodiment, the ramps 370 and 372 on the latch 342and the corresponding ramps 384 and 386 on the drawer 334 are normallylongitudinally displaced when the drawer 334 is closed, as shown in FIG.24 (where the ramps are all underlying structure) and are longitudinallyaligned in engaging relation by moving the ramps 384 and 386 to theright in FIG. 24 when the drawer 334 is pushed further closed.

In the illustrated embodiment, a first stop 394 (in drawer 334) and asecond stop 396 (in drawer 336) respectfully limit the travel of thelinks 360 and 398 to prevent the drawers 334, 336 from beingsimultaneously pushed further closed sufficiently to engage both theunlatching mechanism 380 of the first drawer 334 and the unlatchingmechanism 382 of the second drawer 336, thereby only allowing one of thefirst and second drawers to be opened at a time.

The shell 332 of the illustrated embodiment has guides 400 and 402 thatreceive the link 388 of the drawer 334 when the unlatching mechanism 380is engaged and the link 388 is deflected, and similar guides 404 and 406that receive the link of the drawer 336 when the unlatching mechanism382 is engaged and the link of the drawer 336 is deflected, in each caseto guide the drawer as it is opened. The shell 332 also has a guide 408to guide the drawer link 360 and a guide 410 to guide the other drawerlink 398.

The drawers such as 334 can further include partial covers such as 412.In an embodiment, the partial cover 412 can be molded as an integralpart of the drawer 332, with an integral hinge 414, while in theorientation 412′ shown in phantom in FIG. 24. The partial cover 412′ canthen be folded over and optionally secured to the body of the drawer 334by a catch or similar arrangement. Also or instead, the insertion of thedrawer 334 into the shell 332 during assembly of the container 330 withthe partial cover 412 in the closed position shown in full lines in FIG.24 can capture the partial cover 412 in its closed position. The partialcovers such as 412 limit access to the stack 416, encouraging the userto remove one sheet 416 at a time from the top of a stack of the sheets416.

A further description of the illustrated embodiment follows.

The illustrated embodiment includes a package 330, useful for examplefor solid oral dosages in a bulk arrangement so as to limit the numberof solid oral dosages that are presented to a user. The bulk package 330optionally can be portable, lightweight and easy to use. The package 330as illustrated has an effective child-resistant closure, as a smallchild will find it difficult to press the push buttons 376, 378 and pusha drawer into the package at the same time. Also, the double drawerfeature with only one operable at a time, limits the amount of contentsto which the user has access at a given time. The package 330 optionallycan also help to create an emotional bond between the user and theproduct. A package that is fun to operate and has an appealing tactileelement is regarded here as creating such an emotional bond.

The illustrated embodiment includes a bulk package for delivering solidoral dosages to a user. The solid oral dosages may include, but are notlimited to: edible films, tablets, lozenges and capsules. In oneembodiment, the product is an edible film. In an embodiment, the ediblefilms are rectangular in shape; the approximate dimensions can be 25mm×35 mm in size for example. The bulk package of the presentillustrated embodiment can be substantially a rectangularparallelepiped, as an example: the illustrated embodiment is essentiallya rectangular parallelepiped with rounded edges and corners, and isrelatively thin so that the package may be readily carried in a pocketor handbag. The edible films are stacked in trays located within thebulk package. The bulk package incorporates two trays, one located ineach end of the package.

The trays slide out from each end of the package. In an embodiment, eachtray holds up to 25 edible films and more preferably, approximately 10edible films per tray. The bulk package shown in FIG. 21 optionally canhave 20 edible film pieces: 10 pieces per tray.

To open the package, two buttons 376 and 378, located in the center ofthe package, are used to slide out one of the trays. The buttons areattached to latches 342, 344 that control the child-resistant mechanism.To open the package, the buttons are pressed and held in whilesimultaneously one of the trays (or drawers) is pushed inward about 1 to2 mm. Once pushed inward, the tray is released, causing the tray to moveoutward from the bulk package housing. Once the tray is released, theuser may manually slide the tray further open to access the product.

The package is designed such that only one tray may be accessed at atime. When one tray is opened to the user, the other tray is lockedwithin the package.

After the tray is opened, the user may release the two push buttons 376and 378. When released, the push buttons move the latches outward due tospring back of the compliant gasket, returning to their home positions.To close the package, the user can slide the opened tray back into thehousing cover. In the illustrated embodiment, the tray can be flush withthe housing cover when fully seated in the package. It is possible topush the tray beyond flush, about 1 to 2 mm. When in the closedposition, the tray is again locked into the package and cannot be openedagain until the above sequence is repeated.

In the illustrated embodiment, the bulk package is composed of fiveparts: a housing cover, two identical side buttons with latches and twoidentical product trays.

The bulk package is designed to protect the product from exposure tomoisture. The bulk package as illustrated optionally can have seals thatare formed between the product trays and the housing cover, and alsooptionally can have seals that are formed between the push buttons andthe housing cover. The bulk package re-establishes these seals duringuse life (after the trays have been opened and closed). The re-sealableseals are designed for up to 50 open/close cycles per tray. In oneembodiment the seals have a moisture ingress rate of less than 2,000micrograms per day, preferably less than 1,500 micrograms per day, underthe conditions of 22° C./80% RH (relative humidity), determined by thefollowing test method: (a) place approximately one gram of molecularsieve in the container and record the weight; (b) close the resealablemechanism; (c) place the sealed container in an environmental chamber atconditions of 80% relative humidity and 22° C.; (c) after one day, weighthe container containing the molecular sieve; (d) after approximatelytwo weeks, weigh the container; and (e) subtract the first day samplefrom the value obtained and divide by the number of days to calculatethe moisture ingress of the container in units of micrograms of water.

The tray assembly is composed of three parts: (1) the product tray, (2)a compliant gasket material at one end (also used as a button) and (3) aproduct lid to partially restrict access to the product.

The product tray serves as a reservoir to hold the edible film in astacked arrangement. The product tray optionally can have a slopedregion to facilitate the removal of one piece of edible film from thestack. The sloped region helps to separate the top piece of film fromthe stack. Typically, the user places a finger on the top of the ediblefilm stack and slides the top piece toward the sloped region. Theproduct tray may be composed of a single material (i.e., polypropyleneor polyethylene) or may incorporate an active-polymer (i.e., a desiccantplastic) to control the moisture level in the product. In oneembodiment, the product tray is manufactured in a 2-shot injectionmolding process: the outer portion is molded of a thermoplastic resin(i.e., polypropylene or polyethylene) and the interior portion (thesloped region) is molded out of desiccant plastic. Desiccant plasticmaterial is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,911,937;6,080,350; 6,130,263; 6,174,952; 6,214,255; 6,486,261; and 7,005,459,incorporated by reference here.

A compliant gasket material is positioned on one end of the producttray. There are two projections that are located on the side opposite ofthe gasket material. Referring to FIG. 24, the shorter projectionoptionally can have a slot in the middle of the projection. The longerprojection optionally can have a harpoon-like feature along one side ofthe projection. The shorter projection interacts with the latchingmechanism. The longer projection extends into the opposing tray andprevents both trays from being opened at the same time.

The product tray optionally can have a lid that partially extends overthe top of the tray. The lid may be manufactured as a separate componentor manufactured integral to the product tray. As an integral component,the lid may be hinged to the product tray. In one embodiment, theproduct tray and lid are molded in a single injection molding process.Prior to product filling, the lid is not assembled over the top of thetray. The lid may be hinged in an ‘open’ position. After product isfilled into the tray, the lid may be rotated closed and locked intoposition. Once closed, the lid may not be removed.

The gasket serves two functions: (1) provides a seal between the housingcover and the product tray and (2) provides a spring-back force when theuser pushes product tray inward. During package operation, the userapplies an inward force to the tray on the gasket material.

The gasket may be a separate component or manufactured with the producttray in an integral manner. In one embodiment, the gasket is molded in a2-shot injection molding process with the product tray. The gasket maybe composed of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). Suitable TPEs arematerials with a good moisture vapor transmissions rates and materialsthat readily bond (are compatible with) the thermoplastic resin used forthe product tray.

The push button latches and product trays are assembled into the housingcover. The push button latches each have a hook-feature on their distalend. When the push buttons are assembled into the housing cover, thehooks interlock together and prevent the push button latches from beingremoved from the package. The push buttons are an integral part of thechild-resistant mechanism in the package. In the closed position, whenthe push buttons are NOT pressed, the latches prevent the product traysfrom begin opened. The shorter slotted tab in the product trayoptionally can have a projection along the distal end and is assembledover the latch. The interference between the projection and the latchprevent the product tray from opening.

The housing cover can be composed of one material. In a preferredembodiment, the housing cover may be manufactured in one part using aninjection molding process. The material used for the housing coveroptionally can provide a good barrier to moisture and to UV light toprotect the product within the package. The material optionally can alsobe dimensionally stable since the there are features in the housingcover that interact with other aspects of the bulk package to assistoperation of the package. Suitable materials include polypropylene (PP),high-density polyethylene (HDPE), cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) etc.

The interior, bottom surface of the housing cover optionally can havetwo channels that project out from the surface. These channels are usedto capture the shorter, slotted tab of the product tray.

The product tray's slotted tab optionally can have a set of cleatsmidway along the top surface. When the push button latches are pressedinward, the cleats ride along the latch. At the same time, one of theproduct trays is pressed inward. The latch bottom surface optionally canhave corresponding cleats so that the slotted tab is deflected downwardapproximately about 2 to 3 mm. When the push button tabs are fullydepressed, the slotted tab is deflected downward so that the tab isaligned with one of the channels in the housing cover. When the producttray is released, the product tray slides outward from the package;during this outward motion, the slotted tab is captured by one of thechannels in the housing cover.

The product tray can then be pulled out of the package, until the longertab on the product tray reaches the end of travel. The end of traveloccurs when the harpoon feature of one product tray contacts the harpoonof the opposing product tray. The maximum distance that a product traycan be opened is defined by the harpoon position.

The push button latches can be composed of two components: (1) a pushbutton that forms a seal with the housing cover and (2) a movable latchthat is used to release the product trays. The push button latches maybe made of two parts and assembled. In a preferred embodiment, the pushbutton latches are made in a 2-shot injection molding process. The pushbuttons are made of a thermoplastic elastomer with similar materialrequirements as the Gasket on the product tray.

The push button latches are pushed together inward. In the presentembodiment, the latches move approximately 4 mm inward. A set of cleatson the bottom surface of the latches engage a corresponding set ofcleats on the slotted tab on the product tray, causing the slotted tabto deflect downward. This allows the slotted tab to fit into a channelin the housing cover and enables one of the product trays to openoutward.

Referring to FIGS. 32 to 35, a package 420 in an open position is shownhaving a first shell portion 422, a second shell portion 424, a hinge426, and at least one latch 428. The first shell portion 422 includes abase peripheral edge 430, a base sidewall 432, and an inner region 434.The second shell portion 424 includes a lid peripheral edge 436, a lidsidewall 438, an interior region 440, and at least one catch 442.According to an embodiment, the first shell portion 422, second shellportion 424, and hinge 426 may be integrally molded or non-integral. Thelatch 428 includes an actuator portion 444, a lever 446, and a latchengagement portion 448. According to certain embodiments, the actuatorportion 444 may be a button. The lever 446 includes a first lever leg450 and a second lever leg 452. According to an embodiment, the firstlever leg 450 and the second lever leg 452 are joined at an angle. Thesecond lever leg 452 may be pivotably secured to a first pivot point454, such as, for example a pin that extends from the first shellportion 422. According to another embodiment, the first shell portion422 may include a base plate 456 that is secured or integrally molded tothe first shell portion 422, with the first pivot point 454 extendingfrom the base plate 456. According to another embodiment, the pivotpoint 454 may extend from an insert or tray similar to the insert 78previously discussed that is secured to the first shell portion 422.

The inner region 434 of the first shell portion 422 may be configured toprovide at least a portion of one or more product containing spaces forthe placement of product, as discussed above. As discussed, the firstshell portion 422 may include an insert, having a similar configurationto insert 490 discussed above with respect to FIG. 1, which may beconfigured to provide at least a portion of a product containing space.According to such an embodiment, the insert 490 may be operably attachedto the first shell portion 422, such as, for example, the insert beingadhered to the first shell portion 422, wet welded, through the use of asnap or friction fit, and/or attached by a mechanical fastener,including, for example, a clip or pin, among others. In the embodimentof FIGS. 32-34, the insert 490 sits below the lever 446, a pin protrudesupward from the insert creating pivot point 454. In another embodiment,the insert 490 sits above and covers the lever 446. For example, thefirst shell portion 422 may include at least one upward projection, rib,or slot that is configured to receive at least one downwardly extendingprojection or tab from the insert for attaching the insert to, oraligning the insert for attachment to, the first shell portion 422.

The base sidewall 432 may upwardly extend from, or alternatively, beoffset from, the base peripheral edge 430. For example, as illustratedin FIGS. 32 to 34, the base sidewall 432 is inwardly offset from thebase peripheral edge 430. According to an embodiment, the base sidewall432 may be offset from the base peripheral edge 430 by a distance thatis approximately equal to the thickness of the lid sidewall 438. Whenthe package 420 is closed and the first and second shell portions 422,424 are properly aligned, such an offset may allow for at least aportion of an outer surface of the lid sidewall 438 to be generallyaligned with the adjacent portion of the base peripheral edge 430, whileat least a portion of an outer surface of the base sidewall 432 may beadjacent to, or abut, a portion of an inner surface of the lid sidewall438. Such an offset may also allow for at least one latch 428 to engageat least one catch 442 of the second shell portion 424 so as to lock thepackage 420 in a closed position, as discussed below in more detail.

According to an embodiment, the base and lid sidewalls 432, 438 may becomprised of wall segments having similar or different configurations orcontours. For example, the base sidewall 432 may include a contoured orrecessed wall segment 458 that, when the package 420 is in a closedposition, provides a space that may allow a user to generally upwardlypress on a portion of a bottom surface of the second shell portion 424so as to move the package 420 from a closed position to an open positionwhen the latch 428 is in an unlocked position.

The wall segments of the base sidewall 432, lid sidewall 438, and/or theperipheral edges 430, 436 may be contoured to provide a space for theplacement of at least a portion of the hinge 426 within, or generallyaligned with, the peripheral edges 430, 436 of the first and secondshell portions 422, 424 when the package 420 is in a closed position, asfurther shown for example in FIGS. 36 and 37 (with the hinge 426 beingshown as a double hinge 476). Additionally, the base sidewall 432 mayinclude at least one wall segment having a first aperture 460 configuredfor the placement of a latch engagement portion 448. Further, the basesidewall 432 may be configured to provide a first opening 462 for theslideable placement of at least a portion of the actuator portion 444 ofthe latch 428. According to certain embodiments, the base peripheraledge 430 may also provide an opening for the moveable placement of atleast a portion of the actuator portion 444.

Additionally, although the actuator portion 444 and the first and secondopenings 462, 466 are illustrated in FIGS. 32 to 34 as being on thesides of the package 420, the openings 462, 466, latch 428, and catches442 can be moved to other areas of the package 420, such as for example,having the actuator portion 444 about a front portion of the first shellportion 422 with the corresponding catch 442 extending from a sideportion of the second shell portion 424. Additionally, according tocertain embodiments, the latches 428 may be placed within the secondshell portion 424, and configured to engage a catch that is attached to,extends from, or located on the first shell portion 422.

According to an embodiment, the catch 442 may be part of, extend from,or be adjacent to the lid sidewall 440. Additionally, the catch 442includes a catch aperture 468 that is configured to engage with aportion of the latch engagement portion 448 when the package 420 isclosed and the latch 428 is in a locked or rest position.

When the package 420 is closed and the latch 428 is in a locked or restposition, the latch engagement portion 448 may protrude through thefirst aperture 460 in a wall segment 447 of the base sidewall 432 andinto a catch aperture 468, thereby locking the package 420 in the closedposition. The latch 428 may be moved from a rest or locked position (asshown in FIG. 32) to an unlocked position (as shown in FIGS. 33 and 34)by the displacement of the actuator portion 444 in a generally inwardlylateral direction, as indicated by “L” in FIG. 33. Moreover, a user mayinwardly displace the actuator portion 444 by pressing on the actuatorportion 444 with the user's thumb or finger.

As shown in FIGS. 33 to 35, an actuator guide 470 in the first shellportion 422 or base plate 456 engages a slot 472 in the lever 446 toassist in guiding the generally lateral displacement of the actuatorportion 444.

While FIGS. 32 to 34 illustrate only one latch 428, multiple latches 428may be utilized. For example, for purposes of illustration, the firstshell portion 422 illustrated in FIGS. 32 to 34 is configured toaccommodate two latches 428, as evidenced at least in part by theinclusion in the base plate 456 and/or first shell portion 422 of asecond pivot point 454 b, second actuator guide 470 b, second aperture464, and second opening 466. However, in use, the first shell portion422 may be configured to match the number of latches 428 that are beingused by the package 420.

As the actuator portion 444 is inwardly laterally displaced, the secondlever leg 452 rotates about the first pivot point 454. As the secondlever leg 452 rotates about the first pivot point 454, the latchengagement portion 448 is rotated away from, and out of, the catchaperture 468, thereby unlocking the package 420. According to anembodiment, the latch engagement portion 448 may also include a latchprotrusion 472 that fits inside a groove 474 in the first shell portion422 or base plate 456. The engagement of the latch protrusion 472 andgroove 477 may assist in maintaining the lever 446 in a proper positionand/or limit the distance that the latch engagement portion 448 andsecond lever leg 452 may be rotated.

The first lever leg 450 may be configured and/or oriented to act as aspring that biases the latch 428 in a rest or locked position.Accordingly, the first lever leg 450 may at least assist in returningthe latch 428 to a rest position after the inwardly directed lateralforce has been removed from the actuator portion 444. For example, asshown in FIG. 32, when in a rest or locked position, the first lever leg450 may have a generally straight configuration that is angled away fromlateral direction “L”. However, as the actuator portion 444 is inwardlydisplaced in the lateral direction and the second lever leg 452 ispivoted, the first lever leg 450 may be deflected, bent, and/ordeformed, as shown in FIGS. 33 and 34. Additionally, according to anembodiment, while the degree to which the second lever leg 452 may berotated may be limited, such as, for example, through the engagementbetween the latch protrusion 472 and groove 474, or a post or otherobstruction that limits the rotational movement of the second lever leg452 or latch engagement portion 448, the first lever leg 450 maycontinue to be deflected, bent, and/or deformed as the actuator portion444 continues to be laterally displaced. However, according to anembodiment, the configuration of the first lever leg 450 and placementof the first pivot point 454 in the second lever leg 452 may result inthe first lever leg 450 being deformed, deflected, and/or bent withoutthe need for protrusions or other obstructions that limit the rotationalmovement of the second lever leg 452.

When the inwardly lateral force is removed from the actuator portion444, the first lever leg 450 may begin to generally return to itsoriginal, at rest or locked shape and/or position. As the first leverleg 450 begins to return to shape, the latch 428 may be biased back toits rest or locked position, during which time the engagement of theslot 472 of the lever 428 with the actuator guide 470 may assist inguiding the outwardly lateral movement of the actuator portion 444 backto the general position the actuator portion 444 held before theassertion of the inwardly lateral force. As the first lever leg 450returns to its rest shape or position, the second lever leg 452 may alsopivot the latch engagement portion 448 back into the first aperture 460.

As the latch 428 may be in a rest or locked position in the absence oflateral force inwardly displacing the actuator portion 444, in somecircumstances a user may attempt to close the package with the latchengagement portion 448 extending through the first aperture 460.Therefore, so that the latch engagement portion 448 does not create aninterference that prevents the closing of the package 420, the catch 442may have a wall thickness that allows the catch 442 to deform or bedeflected around the latch engagement portion 448 until the catchaperture 468 and latch engagement portion 448 are generally aligned,whereupon the latch engagement portion 448 may lockingly engage thecatch aperture 468. The catch 442 and/or latch engagement portion 448may also include chamfers or other geometrical surface characteristicsthat assist with the catch 442 sliding over the latch engagement portion448 until the latch engagement portion 448 is able to enter the catchaperture 468 and lock the package 420 in a closed position.Additionally, the latch 428 and/or catch 442 may be configured so thatthe closing of the second shell portion 424 relative to the first shellportion 422 forces the latch engagement portion 448 to be displaceduntil the catch aperture 468 is in position to engage the latchengagement portion 448 so as to the lock the package 420 in a closedposition.

The hinge 426 may assist in controlling the movement of the unlockedsecond shell portion 424 relative to the first shell portion 422. Forexample, referencing FIG. 33, the hinge 426 may assist in limitingmovement of the second shell portion 424 relative to the first shellportion 422 in at least the lateral (“L”), direction, particularly whenthe second shell portion 424 is being moved to open the package 420 sothat the inner region 434 is accessible to a user and/or to close thepackage 420. The hinge 426 may be oriented so that, when the secondshell portion 424 is being moved to an open position, the second shellportion 424 may be pivoted away from the first shell portion 422 so asto provide access to one or more product containing spaces of the firstshell portion 422 or of an insert 78. For example, according to anembodiment of the invention, relative to the first shell portion 422,the second shell portion 424 may be moved from a closed position to anopen position where the second shell portion 424 is generally in thesame plane as the first shell portion 422. However, the hinge 426 may beconfigured to allow the second shell portion 424 to be pivoted from thefirst shell portion 422 by any number of degrees. Further, a variety ofhinges 426 may be used, including integral and non-integral hinges, suchas, for example, a double-fold, flat-top, butterfly, or pinned hinge,among others.

FIGS. 36 and 37 illustrate side cross sectional views of a double hinge476 that is suitable for a number of embodiments of the packagesdescribed herein. According to such an embodiment, the hinge 476 may beconfigured to allow for displacement of the second shell portion 424relative to the first shell portion 422 in the “V” direction (asindicated in FIG. 36). For example, the hinge 426 referenced in FIGS. 32to 34 may be a double hinge 476 that has a first pivot 482 connectingthe first shell portion 422 and the double hinge 476, and a second pivot484 joining the hinge 476 and the second shell portion 424. As shown inFIG. 36, a double hinge 476 may allow for a degree of misalignmentbetween the first and second shell portions 422, 424 while stillallowing for the formation of the seal within the package 420. Morespecifically, as shown in FIG. 36, the double hinge 476 may allow thebase sidewall 432 and lid sidewall 438 to be at least partiallymisaligned while permitting a seal 496 to form about at least a productcontaining space in the package 420.

Referring again to FIGS. 32 to 35, a lip seal arrangement can also beprovided to isolate at least the product containing space of the package420 from the exterior environment when the package 420 is closed, asdiscussed with respect to FIGS. 1 to 5. For example, the package 420 caninclude a first closed lip extending from the first shell portion 422 orthe insert and a mating second closed lip extending from the secondshell portion 424. The first closed lip may define a closed loopenclosure about the product containing space. The second closed lip canbe positioned to engage the first closed lip and seal the area enclosedtherein from ambient air outside of the seal. Additionally, anelastomeric or non-elastomeric material may be employed to assist increating one or more seals that seal at least the product containingspace from ambient air that is outside of the seal, as discussed in moredetail below.

FIGS. 38 and 39 are cross sectional views of a portion package 498having a seal that is suitable for use with embodiments of the packagesdescribed herein. The package 498 illustrated in FIGS. 38 and 39includes a first shell portion 502 and a second shell portion 504.According to an embodiment, the first shell portion 502 includes aninsert 506, the insert 506 having a product containing space 550 and afirst closed lip 508, the first closed lip 508 including an angled outerwall 510. Alternatively, rather than extending from the insert 506, thefirst closed lip 510 may extend from the first shell portion 502. Thesecond shell portion 504 has a second closed lip 512, at least a portionof the second closed lip 512 being configured to engage at least aportion of the angled outer wall 510 of the first closed lip 508 whenthe package 498 is in a closed position.

As shown in FIG. 38, the second closed lip 512 may have a generallystraight configuration when the package 498 is in an open position andthe second closed lip 498 is not in contact with the first closed lip508. The second closed lip 512 has a generally thin wall thickness,which, when second closed lip 512 engages the angled outer wall 510 asthe package 498, allows the second closed lip 512 to be deformed, bent,or distorted so that at least a portion of the second closed lip 512generally mates with or conforms to the angled orientation of the angledouter wall 510. The engagement between the second closed lip 512 andangled outer wall 510 forms a seal that seals the area enclosed thereinfrom ambient air that is outside of the seal.

For example, according to an embodiment, the second closed lip 512 mayhave a thickness of approximately 0.4-0.8 cm, preferably approximately0.4 to 0.6 cm, and more preferably approximately 0.6 cm. Additionally,the angled outer wall 510 of the first closed lip 508 may be angled at avariety of different angles suitable for distorting the second closedlip 512 so as to create the seal between the first and second closedlips 508, 512. However, if the angle of the angled outer wall 510 is toolow, too much of the second closed lip 512 may be in contact with thefirst closed lip 508, which may increase the friction between the firstand second closed lips 508, 512, and thereby result in difficultly inopening and/or closing the package 498. Yet, if the angle of the angledouter wall 510 is too steep, then too little of the second closed lip512 may be in contact with the first closed lip 508, which may cause theseal to be more sensitive to improper alignment. According to certainembodiments, the angle of the angled outer wall 510 of the first closedlip 508 may be between approximately 3 to 10 degrees, and preferablybetween approximately 5 to 8 degrees. For example, according to oneembodiment, the angled outer wall 510 may have an angle of approximately6.5 degrees.

Referencing FIGS. 40 to 54, at least one ancillary seal 522 and/or atleast one second closed lip 526 may be used in forming a seal inside thepackage 514 when the package is closed. The ancillary seal 522 or secondclosed lip 526 may be used to create side and/or face seals, amongothers, and may be constructed from resilient materials, such as, forexample, an elastomeric or non-elastomeric material. For example, asealing engagement may be formed by pressing a first closed lip from afirst shell portion 516 or insert 520, or a second shell portion 518into or against the ancillary seal 522, causing the ancillary seal 522to deform about a least a portion of the adjacent first closed lip orsecond closed lip 526 so as to form a seal. Similarly, a seal may alsobe formed by the second closed lip 526 being distorted, bent, ordeformed by a pressing engagement with a surface of the first shellportion 516 or insert 520, such as a first closed lip, among others. Theancillary seal 522 may affixed to, or integrally or non-integrallymolded to, the first shell portion 516, insert 520, or to the secondshell portion 518. For purposes of illustration, the embodiments beloware shown using a second closed lip 526 in connection with forming theseal. However, according to certain embodiments, a first closed lipextending from the first shell portion 516 or insert 520 may also beused to create the seal in a similar manner as discussed below withrespect to the second closed lip 526.

Although referred to as a “second” seal 522, according to certainembodiments, the ancillary seal 522 may be used to create the primary,and possibly the only, seal within the closed package 514, or incombination with other seals, including the lip seal discussed withrespect to FIGS. 1 to 5, among others. Exemplary configurations ofsealing arrangements showing ancillary seals 522 and the use of thesecond closed lip 526, are shown in cross sectional FIGS. 40-54, whichare discussed in the below.

FIG. 40 illustrates a package 514 having a first shell portion 516, asecond shell portion 518, an insert 520, and an ancillary seal 522. Theancillary seal 522 in FIG. 40 is used to create a face seal and may bemade from a variety of materials, including a thermoplastic elastomericmaterial, among others. According to an embodiment, the ancillary seal522 is affixed or molded to an inner region 524 of an insert 520. Theinsert 520 may be affixed to, or, alternatively, part of, a first shellportion 516. The second shell portion 518 includes a second closed lip526 that abuts the ancillary seal 522 when the package 514 is in aclosed position to form a seal between the second closed lip 526 and theancillary seal 522. Moreover, the second closed lip 526 may have alength that causes the second closed lip 526 to depress the abuttingresilient surface of the ancillary seal 522 to form the seal. Accordingto another embodiment, the ancillary seal 522 may be affixed or moldedto the second shell portion 518, and the first shell portion 516 mayinclude a first closed lip that engages and depresses the ancillary seal522 when the package 514 is in a closed position.

According to another embodiment, the ancillary seal 522 shown in FIG. 40is affixed or molded to the second closed lip 526. According to such anembodiment, the seal is created when the package 514 is closed by theancillary seal 522 being pressed against the insert 520 or first shellportion 516.

FIG. 41 illustrates a face seal where the ancillary seal 522 is outsideof an inner area 524 of the insert 520. According to such an embodiment,the ancillary seal 522 may be attached or molded to the insert 520 orthe first shell portion 516 and may be made from a variety of differentmaterials, including polypropylene, among others. Additionally, asshown, the second closed lip 526 of the second shell portion 518terminates in a “V” shape that is depressed into the ancillary seal 522when the package 514 is in a closed position. According to anembodiment, the ancillary seal 522 may also have a mating “V” shapeindentation that is configured to mate with the “V” shaped protrusion ofthe second closed lip 526. Additionally, as with FIG. 40, according toanother embodiment, the ancillary seal 522 may be attached or molded tothe second shell portion 518, with the first shell portion 516 or insert522 having a first closed lip with an inverted “V” shape that is pressedinto the ancillary seal 522 when the package 614 is in a closedposition.

According to another embodiment, the ancillary seal 522 shown in FIG. 41is affixed or molded to the bottom of the second closed lip 526.According to such an embodiment, the seal is created when the package514 is closed by the ancillary seal 522 being pressed against the insert520 or first shell portion 516.

FIG. 42 illustrates the use of the ancillary seal 522 to create a sideseal. As shown, when the package 514 is in a closed position, theancillary seal 522 is pressed between an inner surface 532 of the secondclosed lip 526 and an outer wall surface 534 of the insert 520, such asa first closed lip. According to an embodiment, the ancillary seal 522may be attached or molded to either the second closed lip 526 or theinsert 520, and may be made from a variety of materials, includingthermoplastic elastomeric materials, among others. As shown, accordingto such an embodiment, the second closed lip 522 does not necessarilytouch the insert or the first shell portion 516. However, according toanother embodiment, a face seal may also be formed at the bottom of thesecond closed lip 526, such as, for example, by extending the ancillaryseal 522 shown in FIG. 42, the inclusion at least one other ancillaryseal 522, or by the interaction between the bottom of the second closedlip 526 and the insert 520 and/or first shell portion 516. According toanother embodiment, the ancillary seal 522 may be between a wall of thefirst shell portion 516, such as the first closed lip (not shown), andthe second closed lip 526 of the second shell portion 518.

FIG. 43 illustrates an ancillary seal 522 that is attached or molded tothe second shell portion 518 to form a side seal. The ancillary seal 522shown in FIG. 43 may be made for a variety of different materials,including thermoplastic elastomeric materials, among others. Morespecifically, as shown when the package 514 is in a closed position, theancillary seal 522 is pressed by an inner wall surface 530 of the insert520, such as a first closed lip, to form a seal. According to anotherembodiment, the first shell portion 516 may include a wall, such as thefirst closed lip (not shown) that may interact with a ancillary seal 522that is attached or molded to the second shell portion 518 to form aface seal. Alternatively, the ancillary seal 522 in FIG. 43 may beextended or positioned to interact with an upper surface of the insert520 or of a wall of the first shell portion 516 to form a face seal inaddition to, or in lieu of, the face seal.

According to another embodiment, the ancillary seal 522 shown in FIG. 43is affixed or molded to the insert 520 or first shell portion 516.According to such an embodiment, a seal is created when the package isclosed by the ancillary seal 522 being pressed against the insert 520 orfirst shell portion 516. According to such an embodiment, when thepackage is closed, the ancillary seal 522 engages the first shellportion 518 to form a face seal inside the package.

FIG. 44 is similar to FIG. 43, except the ancillary seal 522 is replacedwith a second closed lip 526 that is molded in the second shell portion518. According to such an embodiment, at least the second shell portion518 may be molded from a polypropylene that allows the second closed lip526 to be deformed. Moreover, similar to the second closed lip 512 inFIGS. 38 and 39, the second closed lip 526 in FIG. 44 is relatively thinso as to allow the second closed lip 526 to be deflected, bent, ordeformed by engagement with an inner wall surface 530 of the insert 520or first shell portion 516, such as a first closed lip, to form a seal.In the embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 44, when the package 514 is in aclosed position, the second closed lip 526 is deformed, bent, ordistorted inwardly. According to other embodiments, the insert 520and/or first shell portion 516 may include walls, such as the firstclosed lip of the first shell portion 516 that may be deflected, bent,or deformed by engagement with the second shell portion 518 to form aseal.

FIG. 45 illustrates a package 514 having an ancillary seal 522 that isused to form a side seal. According to such an embodiment, the ancillaryseal 522 is attached or molded to the second shell portion 518, andengages a portion of an outer wall surface 534 of the insert 520 orfirst shell portion 516, such as a first closed lip. Such an engagementoutwardly presses on the ancillary seal 522, thereby forcing theancillary seal 522 to deform, distort, or bend to conform to thepressing outer wall surface 534, and thereby form a seal. According tosuch an embodiment, the ancillary seal 522 is affixed or molded to thesecond shell portion 518 and may be made from a variety of materials,including thermoplastic elastomers, among others.

However, according to another embodiment, the ancillary seal 522 shownin FIG. 45 may be affixed or molded to the outer wall surface 534 of theinsert 520 or the first shell portion 516, such as for example along theouter surface of the previously discussed first closed lip (not shown).According to such an embodiment, when the package 514 is closed, theancillary seal 522 engages the second shell portion 518 to form a faceseal.

FIG. 46 is similar to FIG. 45 except the ancillary seal 522 is replacedwith a second closed lip 526 that is molded in the second shell portion518. According to such an embodiment, at least the second shell portion518 may be molded from a material such as polypropylene that allows thesecond closed lip 526 to be deformed. Moreover, similar to the secondclosed lip 512 in FIGS. 38 and 39, the second lip 526 in FIG. 44 isrelatively thin so as to allow the second closed lip 526 to bedeflected, bent, or deformed by engagement with a outer wall surface 534of the insert 520 or first shell portion 516, such as a first closedlip, to form a seal. In the embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 46, when thepackage 514 is in a closed position, the second closed lip 526 isdeformed, bent, or distorted outwardly. According to other embodiments,the insert 520 and/or first shell portion 516 may include walls, such asthe first closed lip of the first shell portion 516 that may bedeflected, bent, or deformed by engagement with the second shell portion518 to form a seal.

FIG. 47 illustrates an ancillary seal 522 creating a side seal if theancillary seal 522 is affixed or molded to the second shell portion 518,or a face seal if the ancillary seal 522 is molded or affixed to theinsert 520 or first shell portion 516. The ancillary seal 522 shown inFIG. 47 is similar to that shown in FIG. 43, except the ancillary seal522 in FIG. 47 is a longer seal that extends further into the insert520. The ancillary seal 522 shown in FIG. 47 may be made from a varietyof different materials, including thermoplastic elastomers, amongothers.

FIG. 48 is similar to FIG. 47 except the ancillary seal 522 in thepackage 514 is replaced with a second closed lip 526 that is molded inthe second shell portion 518. According to such an embodiment, at leastthe second shell portion 518 may be molded from a polypropylene, amongother materials. Similar to the second closed lip 512 in FIGS. 38 and39, the second closed lip 526 in FIG. 44 is relatively thin so as toallow the second closed lip 526 to be deflected, bent, or deformed byengagement with an inner wall surface 530 of the insert 520 or firstshell portion 516, such as a first closed lip, to form a seal. In theembodiment, illustrated in FIG. 48, when the package 514 is in a closedposition, the second closed lip 526 is deformed, bent, or distortedinwardly. According to other embodiments, the insert 520 and/or firstshell portion 516 may include walls, such as the first closed lip of thefirst shell portion 516, that may be deflected, bent, or deformed byengagement with the second shell portion 518 to form a seal.

FIG. 49 illustrates a package 514 in which an inner surface 532 of asecond closed lip 526 engages with an outer wall surface 534 of aninsert 520 or first shell portion, such as a first closed lip, to form aside seal. According to such an embodiment, the second closed lip 526may be bent, deformed, or distorted when engaged with the outer wallsurface 534 of the insert 520 to form a seal. According to certainembodiments, at least the second closed lip 526 is molded from apolypropylene, among other materials.

FIG. 50 illustrates an ancillary seal 522 that is affixed or molded to asecond shell portion 518. The ancillary seal 522 is configured andpositioned to assist in providing a face seal when the package 514 is ina closed position. Moreover, when the package 514 is in a closedposition, the ancillary seal 522 engages an upper surface 528 of theinsert 520 or of the first shell portion 516. The engagement between theancillary seal 522 and the upper surface 528 creates a face seal.According to such an embodiment, the ancillary seal 522 may be made froma variety of materials, including thermoplastic elastomers, amongothers.

FIG. 51 is similar to FIG. 50 with the exception that the ancillary seal522 is molded or affixed to the upper surface 528 of the insert 520rather than the second shell portion 518. Therefore, when the package514 is closed, a portion of the second shell portion 518 engages theancillary seal 522 in FIG. 51 to form a face seal that seals the areaenclosed therein from ambient air that is outside of the ancillary seal522.

FIG. 52 is similar to FIG. 50 with the exception that in addition to aface seal, the same or an additional ancillary seal 522 is used toprovide a side seal inside the package 514. According to an embodiment,at least a portion of the ancillary seal 522 is affixed or molded alonga portion of the second shell portion 518. When the package 514 is in aclosed position, an upper surface 528 of the insert 520 engages theancillary seal 522, thereby deforming, bending, or distorting theancillary seal 522 to mate with at least a portion of the upper surface528, and thereby assist in creating a seal. Additionally, the same or anadditional ancillary seal 522 may extend downwardly so that, when thepackage 514 is in a closed position, a side seal is formed along anouter wall surface 534 of the insert 520 or of the first shell portion516, such as a first closed lip.

FIG. 53 illustrates an ancillary seal 522 that is affixed or molded tothe second shell portion 518 and positioned between lid guides 536.According to such an embodiment, the engagement of the ancillary seal522 and an upper surface 528 of the insert 520, such as a first closedlip, that forms a face seal that seals the area enclosed therein fromambient air outside of the seal.

FIG. 54 illustrates a seal similar to that previously described withFIGS. 38 and 39, in which a generally straight second closed lip 512,526 is bent, deformed, or distorted when engaged with an angled outerwall 510, 538 of the insert 506, 520 or first shell portion. However,the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 54 also includes an ancillary seal522 similar to that previously discussed with respect to FIG. 41.Similar to the discussion regarding FIG. 41, the ancillary seal 522shown in FIG. 54 may be attached or molded to either the second closedlip 526, the insert 520, or the first shell portion 516, and is used toform a face seal when the package 514 is closed.

Examples of non-elastomeric materials that may be used for the ancillaryseal 522 include, but are not limited to, Polypropylene (PP),Polyethylene (PE) (high or low density), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC),Cyclic Olefin Co-polymer (CoC), Polyethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA),Polystyrene (PS), Polycarbonate (PC), Polyester terephthalate (PET),Polyamide (nylon), Acetal Copolymer or Homopolymer Resin, and LiquidCrystal Polymer, among others. Examples of elastomeric materials thatmay be used for the ancillary seal 522 include, but are not limited to,Santoprene® Thermoplastic Vulcanizate (TPV), Polyoxymethylene Copolymer(POM), Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM), Silicones (CG, PG, TR,FDA), Styrenet Butadiene Rubber (SBR), Polychloroprene (CR), NitrileRubber (NBR), and Neoprene®, among others.

Referring to FIGS. 55 to 60, a package 540 is shown in an open positionthat includes a first shell portion 542, a second shell portion 544, aninsert 546, a hinge 548, and at least one latch 566. The first shellportion 544 includes a base 550, a base sidewall 552, and an innerregion 554. The base sidewall 552 generally extends upwardly from thebase 550 and generally defines the inner region 554. The second shellportion 544 includes a lid sidewall 556, a top portion 558, an interiorregion 560, and at least one catch 562. The lid sidewall 556 generallyextends from the top portion 558 and generally defines the interiorregion 560.

According to an embodiment, the base sidewall 552 and the lid sidewall556 may be configured to abut each other along at least one surface whenthe package 540 is in a closed position. Additionally, the package 540illustrated in FIGS. 55 to 60 may include a sealing arrangement aspreviously discussed, including, but not limited to, the sealingarrangements discussed with respect to FIGS. 1 to 5 and FIGS. 32 to 54.

Further, as previously discussed, a variety of hinges 548 may be usedwith the package 540, including integral and non-integral hinges, suchas, for example, the double hinge 476 discussed above with respect toFIGS. 36 to 37, a double-fold hinge, flat-top hinge, butterfly hinge, orpinned hinge, among others.

The catch 562 a, 562 b may be part of, extend from, or be adjacent tothe lid sidewall 556. For example, as shown on FIG. 56, the package 540includes a first and second catch 562 a, 562 b that extend downwardlyfrom the second shell portion 544 and are adjacent to an inner surfaceof the lid sidewall 556. Additionally, the first and second catch 562 a,562 b include a catch aperture 564 that is configured to engage with aportion of a latch engagement portion 582, discussed below, when thepackage 540 is in a closed position and the latch 566 is in a locked orrest position, as discussed below.

The insert 546 is configured to be placed and/or secured in the innerregion 554 of the first shell portion 542, as previously discussed withrespect to at least the package shown in FIGS. 32 to 35. For example,the insert 546 may include a slot or orifice that is placed over a pinor post 494 in the first shell portion 542 to assist in securing theinsert 546 to the first shell portion 542. Additionally, as alsopreviously discussed, the insert 546 may include a product containingspace 568 that is at least partially accessible to a user when thepackage 540 is in an open position. At least a portion of the productcontaining space 568 of the insert 546 may be covered by a cover 570.The cover 570 may include at least one dispenser opening 572 that may beconfigured for the dispensing of product contained in the productioncontaining space 568. The shape and size of the dispenser opening 572may be configured based on the size and shape of the product that is tobe dispensed from the dispenser opening 572. For example, at least aportion of the dispenser opening 572 may be configured for dispensingrelatively long and narrow stick-shaped products, circular products, orthin sheet products from a stack of similar products. Further, thedispenser opening 572 may also include an access opening 574 for theuser to place a finger or thumb to assist with the dispensing of productfrom the dispenser opening 572. Such covers 570 can be used with theinserts for each of the package embodiments discussed herein.

The insert 546 includes at least one latch 566. For example, accordingto an embodiment, the package 540 has a first latch 566 a and a secondlatch 566 b that are integrally molded with the insert 546. Each latch566 a, 566 b includes a latch leg 576, an actuator portion 578, a latchopening 580, and a latch engagement portion 582. According to anembodiment, the latch leg 576 may extend along the side of the insert546 and be separated from the body 478 of the insert 546 by a space 480.The space 480 may be configured to provide a space for the displacementof the actuator portion 578 and/or the bending, deformation, distortion,or pivotable movement of the latch leg 576. Additionally, the latch leg576 may have a first end 486 and a second end 488, the first end 486including or being attached to the actuator portion 578, and the secondend 488 being attached to the body 478 of the insert 546.

The latch opening 580 is configured to receive at least a portion of thecorresponding catch 562 when the package 540 is in a closed position.Additionally, the latch engagement portion 582 is configured so that atleast a portion of the latch engagement portion 582 extends into thecatch aperture 564 when the package 540 is in a closed position so as tolock the package 540 closed. Although FIGS. 55 to 60 illustrate thefirst and second catches 562 a, 562 b and the first and second latches566 a, 566 b on the sides of the package 540, according to otherembodiments, the latches 566 a, 566 b and catches 562 a, 562 b may belocated at a variety of locations, including at the front of the package540, among other locations.

As shown, the actuator portions 578 a, 578 b extend through first andsecond openings 584, 586, respectively, in the base sidewall 552 so thatthe actuator portions 578 a, 578 b are accessible to the user.Additionally, the base sidewall 552 includes a first and second aperture588, 590 so as to provide the first and second catch 562 a, 562 b,respectively, access to the latch openings 580 and latch engagementportions 582.

To open a package 540 that is closed and locked, the user presses on theactuator portions 578 a, 578 b of the latch 566 so that the actuatorportions 578 a, 579 b are generally inwardly displaced in a lateraldirection (as indicated by “L” in FIG. 55). The inward displacement ofthe actuator portions 578 a, 578 b causes the associated latch leg 576a, 576 b to bend, deflect, and/or deform. Such inward displacement ofthe actuator portions 578 a, 578 b causes the inward displacement of thelatch engagement portion 582 corresponding to each actuator portion 576a, 576 b so that the latch engagement portion 582 is removed from thecorresponding catch aperture 564. The catches 562 a, 562 b may then beable to be removed from the latch openings 580 a, 580 b and the firstand second apertures 588 a, 588 b, respectively, as the second shellportion 544 is at least partially separated from the first shell portion542 as the package 540 is moved from a closed to an open position. Whenthe inward force is removed from an actuator portion(s) 578 a, 578 b,the corresponding latch leg 576 a, 576 b may generally return to theoriginal shape, orientation, or position the latch leg 576 a, 576 b hadbefore the corresponding actuation portion(s) 578 a, 578 b was pressedso that the actuator portion(s) 578 a, 578 b is generally returned toit's rest or locked position.

As with the catch 442 discussed above with respect to the package 420shown in FIGS. 32-35, the catch 562 shown in FIGS. 55 and 56 may beconfigured to bend, deflect, or deform when the package 540 is beingclosed so that the latch engagement portion 582 lockingly engage thecatch 562 without actuation of the latch 566. Additionally, the latch566 and/or catch 562 may be configured to so that the closing of thesecond shell portion 544 relative to the first shell portion 542 forcesthe latch engagement portion 582 to be displaced until the catchaperture 564 is in position to lockingly engage the latch engagementportion 582 so as to the lock the package 540 in a closed position.

Referring to FIGS. 61 to 66, a package 600 is shown in an open position,the package 600 having a first shell portion 602, a second shell portion604, a hinge 606, and at least one latch 608. The first shell portion602 includes a base sidewall 610, an inner region 612, and at least oneprotrusion 614. The second shell portion 604 includes a lid sidewall616, an interior region 618, and a hook 620. According to an embodiment,the first shell portion 602, second shell portion 604, and hinge 606 maybe integrally molded. As previously discussed, an insert 622 may beoperably attached to the first shell portion 602 and includes a productcontaining space 568. Additionally, as discussed with respect to FIG.55, a cover 570 may be attached to the insert 622.

According to an embodiment, the base sidewall 610 and the lid sidewall616 may be configured to abut each other along at least one surface whenthe package 600 is in a closed position, which may form a seal insidethe package 600. According to certain embodiments, the package 600 mayinclude a sealing arrangement as previously discussed, including, butnot limited to, the sealing arrangements discussed with respect to FIGS.1 to 5 and FIGS. 32 to 54.

Further, as previously discussed, a variety of hinges may be used withthe package 600, including integral and non-integral hinges, such as,for example, the double hinge 476 discussed above with respect to FIGS.36 to 37, a double-fold hinge, flat-top hinge, butterfly hinge, orpinned hinge, among others.

The latch 608 shown in FIGS. 61 to 64 may be relatively flexible andhave a generally “L” shape configuration. The latch 608 may include anactuator portion 624, a first leg 626, a second leg 628, a slot 630, aspring 632, and a latch engagement portion 634. According to anembodiment, the slot 630 and spring 632 may be located in the second leg628. While the spring 632 illustrated in FIGS. 61 to 64 is integrallymolded into the latch 608, according to other embodiments the spring 632may be a separate component that is biased against the latch 608. Forexample, according to an embodiment, a separate helical compressionspring may be used to bias the latch in the locked or rest position.Additionally, according to an embodiment, at least a portion of thespring 632 may be located in the slot 630. Further, at least a portionof the actuator portion 624 may be located in proximity to the first end636 of the latch 608, while the latch engagement portion 634 may belocated in proximity to a second end 638 of the latch 608. The latchengagement portion 634 is configured to engage at least a portion of thehook 620 when package 600 is closed so that the package 600 may belocked closed. Moreover, the hook 620 may include at least one prong 640that extends from the hook 620 and is positioned beneath at least aportion of the latch engagement portion 634 when the package 600 islocked in a closed position. Further, as shown in FIG. 66, the insert622 covers the latches 608 when inserted into the first shell portion602 and includes an insert aperture 642 through which the hook 620 mayextend so as to engage the latch engagement portion 634 when the package600 is closed.

FIG. 65 illustrates a perspective view of the first shell portion 602for an embodiment of the package 600. The base sidewall 610 may includean opening 644 configured to allow for the protrusion and slideablemovement of the actuator portion 624, as discussed below. Additionally,the first shell portion 602 may include at least one guide 646, 648, 650that guides the movement of the first and/or second leg 626, 628 as thelatch 608 is being activated. More specifically, the first shell portion602 may include a first guide 646 that assists in guiding the movementof at least a portion of the first leg 626 in a generally “V” direction(as indicated in FIG. 61), a second guide 648 that assists in guidingthe movement of at least second leg 628 in a generally lateral direction(indicated by “L” in FIG. 61), and/or a corner guide 650 that assists inguiding a portion of the latch 608 where the first and second legs 626,628 join around the corner 652 of the first shell portion 602. The firstshell portion 602 also includes a protrusion 614 that mates with theslot 630 in the latch 600, and which provide at least one relativelystationary surface against which a portion of the spring 632 may engagein connection with biasing the latch 608 in a closed position.

To open the package 600 shown in FIGS. 61-66 when the package 600 isclosed and locked, the user may slidingly displace the actuator portions624 along a side wall of the base sidewall 610 toward the back end 654of the first shell portion 602. According to certain embodiments, thebase sidewall 610 may have an opening 644 that is configured to allowthe actuator portion to be slid along in the “V” direction as the latchis moved from a locked or rest position to an open position, and viceversa.

The sliding displacement of the actuator portions 624 causes at least aportion of the adjoined first leg 626 to move generally in the “V”direction, at least a portion of the second leg 628 to move in an “L”direction, and at least a portion of the latch where the first andsecond legs 626, 628 meet to move around the corner 652 of the firstshell portion 602. As the latch 608 moves, the slot 630 of the latch 608also moves along the protrusion 614 of the first shell portion 602,pulling the inwardly biased spring 632 in an outwardly direction towardthe protrusion 614. This movement of the second leg 628 also results inthe latch engagement portion 634 moving in an outwardly lateraldirection. According to certain embodiments, the actuator portion 624may be formed as a portion of the first leg 626.

As illustrated in FIGS. 61 and 63, according to an embodiment in whichthe package 600 has two latches 608, the latch engagement portions 634of both latches 608 are in relative close proximity to each other abouta central lateral location of the first shell portion 658 when thelatches 608 are in a locked or rest position. Such relative closeproximity of the latch engagement portions 608 may assist in maintainingthe locking engagement between the hook 620 and the latch engagementportions 634. However, as shown in FIGS. 62 and 64, when a user slidesthe actuator portion 624 so as to displace the actuator portions 624from the rest or locked position shown in FIG. 63 to the open positionshown in FIG. 64, three latch engagement portions 634 of the two latches608 move outwardly in opposite directions, thereby increasing thedistance between the latch engagement portions 634 and disengaging fromthe hook 620 and unlocking the package 600. The previously lockedpackage 600 may then be opened. When the user removes the force used toslide the actuator portions 624, the biased springs 632 force thelatches 608 back to their at rest or locked position, thereby returningthe latch engagement portions 634 of the latches 608 to being inrelative close proximity, as shown in FIGS. 61 and 63.

When the package 600 is to be closed, the hook 620 and latchingengagement portions 634 may have chamfers or other surface modificationsthat allows the hook 620 to push the latching engagement portions 634 inan outwardly lateral direction until the prongs 640 of the hook 620 arebeneath the latching engagements portions 634, at which point theinwardly biasing force of the spring 632 may force the latchingengagements portions 634 back to their rest or locked position and lockthe package 600 closed.

While FIGS. 61 to 64 illustrate two latches 608, the package 600 couldalso be configured for use with one latch 608, where the displacement ofthe latch 608 disengages the locking engagement between latch 608 andhook 620, and thereby allows the package 600 to be opened.

Referring to FIGS. 67 to 72, a package 656 is shown in an open position,the package 656 having a first shell portion 658, a second shell portion660, a hinge 662, and at least one latch 664. The first shell portion658 includes a base sidewall 666, an inner region 668, and at least oneprotrusion 670. The second shell portion 660 includes a lid sidewall672, an interior region 674, and a hook 676. According to an embodiment,the hook 676 may include at least one prong 704 that outwardly extendsfrom the hook 676 and lockingly engages the latch engagement portions686 a, 686 b when the package 656 is closed and locked. According to anembodiment, the first shell portion 658, second shell portion 660, andhinge 662 may be integrally molded or non-integral. As previouslydiscussed, an insert 678 may be operably attached to the first shellportion 658 and includes a product containing space 568. Additionally,as discussed with respect to FIG. 55, a cover 570 may be attached to theinsert 678.

According to an embodiment, the base sidewall 666 and the lid sidewall672 may be configured to abut each other along at least one surface whenthe package 656 is in a closed position, which may form a seal insidethe package 656. Additionally, the package 656 may include a sealingarrangement as previously discussed, including, but not limited to, thesealing arrangements discussed with respect to FIGS. 1 to 5 and FIGS. 32to 54.

As previously discussed, a variety of hinges may be used with thepackage 656, including integral and non-integral hinges, such as, forexample, the double hinge 476 discussed above with respect to FIGS. 36to 37, a double-fold hinge, flat-top hinge, butterfly hinge, or pinnedhinge, among others.

FIGS. 69 to 72 illustrate a package 656 having a first latch 664 a and asecond latch 664 b. Each of the latches 664 a, 664 b may include anactuator portion 680 a, 680 b, an arm 682 a, 682 b, a spring 684 a, 684b, a latch engagement portion 686 a, 686 b, a first end portion 698 a,698 b, and a second end portion 700 a, 700 b. The actuator portion 680a, 680 b may be positioned about the first end portion 698 a, 698 b,while the latch engagement portion 686 a, 686 b may be positioned inproximity to the second end portion. The arms 682 a, 682 b may include aslot 688 a, 688 b that mates with the protrusion 670 in the first shellportion 658. The size of the slot 688 a, 688 b and the protrusion 670may limit the distance that the latch 664 may be displaced either anoutwardly or inwardly lateral direction (as indicated by “L” in FIG.67). The first shell portion 658 also includes openings 690 a, 690 bthrough which the user may have access to the actuator portions 680 a,680 b so as to push actuator portions 680 a, 680 b in a generally inwardlateral direction when unlocking the package 656.

The spring 684 a, 684 b is configured to engage the protrusion 670 andbias the latches 664 a, 664 b in a locked or rest position, as shown inFIGS. 69 and 71. While the spring 684 a, 684 b illustrated in FIGS. 69to 72 is integrally molded into the latch 664 a, 664 b, according toother embodiments, the spring 684 a, 684 b may be a separate componentthat is biased against the latch 664 a, 664 b. Additionally, accordingto an embodiment, at least a portion of the spring 684 a, 684 b may belocated in the slot 688 a, 688 b.

According to an embodiment, the arms 682 a, 682 b may extend between thesides 692, and along and front portion 694, of the first shell portion658. The latch engagement portions 686 a, 686 b of the latches 664 a,664 b have apertures 696 a, 696 b that when assembled within the firstshell portion 658, are in an overlapping configuration about a generallycentral location in the lateral direction “L” of the first shell portion658. For example, as shown in FIGS. 71 and 72, at least a portion of thelatch engagement portion 686 b of a second latch 664 b overlaps at leasta portion of the aperture 696 a of the latch engagement portion 686 a ofa first latch 664 a. The two overlapping apertures 696 a, 696 b form asingle opening that receives the hook 676 when the package 656 isclosed.

To unlock a closed package 656, the actuator portions 680 a, 680 b aredisplaced in a generally inward lateral direction. As the actuatorportions 680 a, 680 b are inwardly displaced, the latch engagementportion 686 a of the first latch 664 a is moved into closer proximity tothe actuator portion 680 b of the second latch 664 b then when thelatches 664 a, 664 b are in a locked or rest portion, while the latchengagement portion 686 b on the second latch 664 b is moved into closerproximity to the actuator portion 680 a of the first latch 664 a. Suchmovement displaces the latch engagement portions 686 a, 686 b away fromthe hook 676, thereby releasing the locking engagement between the hook676 and the latch engagement portions 686 a, 686 b and unlocking thepackage 656. When the inwardly directed force is removed from theactuator portions 680 a, 680 b, the springs 684 a, 684 b generallyreturn the actuator portions 680 a, 680 b to their rest or lockedposition.

According to an embodiment, when the package 656 is to be closed, thehook 676, and more specifically the prong 704, and the latchingengagement portions 686 a, 686 b may have chamfers, contours, or othersurface modifications that allows the prong 704 to push the latchingengagement portions 686 a, 686 b in a generally outwardly lateraldirection until the prongs 704 of the hook 676 are beneath the latchingengagements portions 686 a, 686 b, at which point the biasing force ofthe springs 684 a, 684 b may force the latching engagements portions 686a, 686 b back to their rest or locked position and therefore lock thepackage 656 closed.

While FIGS. 67 to 72 illustrate two latches 664 a, 664 b, the package656 could also be configured for use with one latch 664 a, where thedisplacement of the latch 664 a disengages the locking engagementbetween latch 664 a and hook 676, and thereby allows the package 656 tobe opened.

Referencing FIGS. 73 to 75, a package 706 is shown in an open position,the package 706 having a first shell portion 708, a second shell portion710, and an insert 712. The first shell portion 708 includes a basesidewall 716, the base sidewall 716 having at least one opening 714. Thesecond shell portion 710 may include a lid sidewall 720 that generallydefines an interior area 722. According to an embodiment, the secondshell portion 710 may have a configuration similar to the second shellportion 44 discussed above with respect to FIGS. 1 to 5. At least onelid latching abutment 718 extends from the second shell portion 710.Moreover, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 73 a and 73 b, a firstand a second lid latching abutment 718 a, 718 b extend from the secondshell portion 710. The first and second shell portions 708, 710 may beintegrally or non-integrally molded, and may be joined by a integral ornon-integral hinge, including, for example, the double hinge 476discussed above with respect to FIGS. 36 to 37, a double-fold hinge,flat-top hinge, butterfly hinge, or pinned hinge, among others.Additionally, the package 706 may include a sealing arrangement aspreviously discussed, including, but not limited to, the sealingarrangements discussed with respect to FIGS. 1 to 5 and FIGS. 32 to 54.

The insert 712 includes an upper surface 724 and least one latch 726.The upper surface 724 includes at least one aperture 728. Additionally,the upper surface 724 may be configured to provide a product containingspace 730 that may be covered by a cover 570, as previously discussed.As shown in FIGS. 74 and 75, the latch 726 is integrally molded to theinsert 712. The illustrated embodiment shows a first latch 726 a andsecond latch 726 b. However, according to other embodiments, the insert712 may include only one latch 726, or more include more than twolatches 726.

The first and second latches 726 a, 726 b each include an actuatorportion 732, a first leg 734, a second leg 736, and a base latchingabutment 738. The base latching abutment 738 may be positioned on thefirst leg 734, while the second leg 736 may be connected to the body 740of the insert 712. At least a portion of the first leg 734 may bepositioned beneath the upper surface 724 of the insert 712. Whenassembled with the first shell portion 708, at least a portion of theactuator portion 732 protrudes into the opening 714 in the first shellportion 708 so that a user may inwardly depress and displace the latch726 when unlocking the package 706. The first and second base latchingabutments 738 a, 738 b are configured to be positioned in, or protrudeout of, a first and second aperture 728 a, 728 b, respectively, in theinsert 712. Additionally, the first and second base latching abutments738 a, 738 b are configured to engage with the first and second lidlatching abutments 718 a, 718 b, respectively, so as to lock the package706 in the closed position.

According to an embodiment, at least a portion of the first leg 734 ofthe second latch 726 b may be positioned over at least a portion of thefirst leg 734 of the first latch 726 a, or vice versa. According to suchan embodiment, the first leg 734 b or base latching abutment 738 b ofthe second latch 726 b is configured or positioned so that the secondlatch 726 b does not interfere with the ability of the base latchingabutment 738 a of the first latch 726 a to slidingly engage anddisengage with/from the first lid latching abutment 718 a. According toan embodiment, at least a portion of the first legs 734 a, 734 b of thefirst and second latches 726 a, 726 b may be positioned next to eachother, as shown in FIGS. 74 and 75.

In use, the lid latching abutments 718 a, 718 b may engage the baselatching abutments 738 a, 738 b in a manner similar to that describedabove with respect to FIGS. 4 and 5 to lock the package 706 in a closedposition. To unlock the package 706, the user may inwardly press on theactuator portions 732 a, 732 b, causing the lateral displacement of thefirst and second base latching abutments 738 a, 738 b away from, andthereby disengage, their adjacent lid latching abutments 718 a, 718 b,and thus unlock the package 706.

According to an embodiment, at least a portion of each of the secondlegs 736 a, 736 b of the latches 726 a, 726 b are separated from theadjacent body 740 of the insert 712 by a space 742, with an end portionof the second leg 736 being connected to the body 740. When the firstand second actuator portions 732 a, 732 b are inwardly displaced fromtheir rest or locked position, the thickness and material selection forthe second legs 736 a, 736 b and/or the configuration of the attachmentof the second legs 736 a, 736 b to the body 740 of the insert 712 allowsthe second leg 736 to be bent, deformed, distorted, and/or pivoted. Whenthe force that inwardly displaced the actuator portions 732 a, 732 b isremoved, the second leg 736 a, 736 b may act as a spring that returnsthe latch 736 a, 736 b to its rest or locked position, as shown in FIGS.73 to 75, as the second leg 736 a, 736 b returns to its rest or lockedposition, shape, and/or orientation.

The second leg 736 of the latches 726 a, 726 b may also be deformed,bent, or displaced while the package 706 is being moved for an open to aclosed position. More specifically, when the package 706 is beingclosed, and the user is not inwardly displacing the actuator portions732 a, 732 b, a lower area of the first and second base latchingabutments 738 a, 738 b may be generally aligned, and come into contact,with an upper area of the corresponding first and second lid latchingabutments 718 a, 718 b. The force exerted by the first and second lidlatching abutments 718 a, 718 b on the base latching abutment 738 a, 738b may cause the second leg 736 a, 736 b of the latches 726 a, 726 b tobe deformed, bent, distorted, and/or pivoted so that the first andsecond base latching abutments 738 a, 738 b are displaced in a generallyoutwardly direction until the base and lid latching abutments 718 a, 718b, 738 a, 738 b are properly aligned for locking the package 706. Oncethe base and lid latching abutments 718 a, 718 b, 738 a, 738 b areproperly aligned, the second leg 736 a, 736 b may return to its rest orlocked position or orientation, which moves the first and second baselatching abutments 738 a, 738 b in a generally inwardly direction untilthe latches 726 a, 726 b are at their rest or locked position. Accordingto an embodiment, the outer surfaces of the base and/or lid latchingabutments 718 a, 718 b, 738 a, 738 b may have surface characteristics,such as chamfers or contours, that may assist in the outwardly movingthe base latching abutments 738 a, 738 b when the package 706 is beingclosed.

FIG. 76 illustrates the insert 712 after molding. As shown, according toan embodiment, the latches 726 a, 726 b may be integrally molded withthe insert 712 by having the first legs 734 a, 734 b extend away fromthe body 740 of the insert 712. According to such an embodiment, priorto assembly in the first shell portion 708, the first legs 734 a, 734 bmay be rotated into position beneath the body 740 of the insert 712.

Referring to FIGS. 77 to 80, a package 744 is shown having a first shellportion 746, second shell portion 748, an insert 750, a hinge 752, andat least one latch 754. According to an embodiment, the first and secondshell portions 746, 748 and the insert 750 may generally have the sameor similar construction as the previously discussed first and secondshell portions 42, 44 and insert 78, respectively, that are illustratedin FIGS. 1 to 5. As also previously discussed, the first and secondshell portions 746, 748 may be joined by a variety of integral ornon-integral hinges, such as, for example, the double hinge 476discussed above with respect to FIGS. 36 to 37, a double-fold hinge,flat-top hinge, butterfly hinge, or pinned hinge, among others.Additionally, the package 744 illustrated in FIGS. 77 to 80 may includea sealing arrangement as previously discussed, including, but notlimited to, the sealing arrangements discussed with respect to FIGS. 1to 5 and FIGS. 32 to 54. For example, the first and second shellportions shown in FIG. 77 are both illustrated as having a first andsecond closed lip 72, 76, respectively, as previously discussed.

As shown in FIGS. 77 to 79, the first shell portion 746 may include abase sidewall 756 and an inner region 758, while the second shellportion 748 may include at least one lid latching abutment 760. Theinsert 750 may include a product containing space 762, and at least oneaperture 764. According to an embodiment, the insert 750 may include afirst attachment member, such as a tab, that is to be mated or fittedwith a second attachment member 766, such as rib protrusions, in thefirst shell portion 746 to attach or secure the insert 750 to the firstshell portion 746. Additionally, at least a portion of the insert 750,such as a portion of the product containing space 762, may be covered bya cover 570, as previously discussed.

As previously mentioned, the package 744 includes at least one latch754. According to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 77 to 80, thepackage 744 has an upper latch 754 a and a lower latch 754 b. The upperlatch 754 a includes an actuator portion 764 a, a spring 770 a, a leg772 a, an opening 774, and a first base latching abutment 776 a. Thelower latch includes an actuator portion 764 b, a spring 770 b, a leg772 b, and a second base latching abutment 776 b. The springs 770 a, 770b may be integrally molded or non-integral to the upper and lowerlatches 754 a, 754 b. The first and second base latching abutments 776a, 776 b are configured to lockingly engage a first and second lidlatching abutment 760 a, 760 b, respectively, when the package 744 is inclosed position. According to an embodiment, the base and lid latchingabutments 776 a, 776 b, 760 a, 760 b have a configuration similar to thelatching abutments 98, 66, 86, 54 previously discussed with respect toFIGS. 1 to 5. The springs 770 a, 770 b may be configured to engage awall in the first shell portion 746 or insert 750, such as a firstclosed lip, so as to bias the latches 754 a, 754 b in a locked or restprotrusion, wherein the actuator portions 764 a, 764 b may protrude fromopenings in the base sidewall 756.

When assembled, at least a portion of the leg 772 a of the upper latch754 a overlaps at least a portion of the leg 772 b of the lower latch754 b, as shown in FIG. 80. Additionally, the opening 774 of the upperlatch 754 a is configured to receive the insertion of the second baselatching abutment 776 b, and is sized to not interfere with the abilityof the second latching abutment 776 b to be laterally displaced (asindicated by “L” in FIG. 77) when the second latching abutment 776 isengaging and disengaging the second lid latching abutment 760 b. Whenthe package 744 is assembled with the insert 750, at least a portion ofthe first and second base latching abutments 776 a, 776 b may extendthrough an aperture 764 a, 764 b in the insert 750 and/or at least aportion of a lid latching abutment 760 a, 760 b may extend into theaperture 764 a, 764 b when the package 744 is in a closed position.

A latch 754 may move from a rest or locked position to an unlockedposition when an actuator portion 764 is inwardly depressed withsufficient force to at least partially deform, deflect, or bend thespring 770 a, 770 b. As an actuator portion 764 a, 764 b is inwardlydisplaced, the associated spring 770 a, 770 b, which, according to anembodiment may be a leaf spring that is located on the backside of theactuator portion 764 a, 764 b, is pressed against a wall or surface ofthe first shell portion 746 or insert 750, such as a first closed lip.The displacement of the actuator portion 764 a, 764 b causes theassociated leg 772 a, 772 b and base latching abutment 776 a, 776 b tomove in the same general direction as the actuator portion 764 a, 764 b.When both the upper and lower actuator portions 764 a, 764 b are beinginwardly displaced, the legs 772 a, 772 b of the upper and lower latches754 a, 754 b may generally slide opposite directions, thereby increasingthe distance between the first and second base latching abutments 776 a,776 b. Moreover, the sliding displacement of a base latching abutment(s)776 a, 776 b may disengage the base latching abutment(s) 754 a, 754 bfrom a locking engagement with the corresponding lid latching abutment760 a, 760 b.

When the user releases an actuator portion 764 a, 764 b, the associatedspring 770 a, 770 b forces the actuator portion 764 a, 764 b togenerally return to it's locked or rest position, bringing the baselatching abutments 776 a, 776 b back into closer proximity with eachother. Additionally, when an opened package 744 is being closed, the lidlatching abutment 760 a, 760 b may exert a force on the correspondingbase latching abutment 776 a, 776 b that is sufficient to at leastpartially deflect, deform, or bend the spring 770 a, 770 b so that thebase latching abutments 776 a, 776 b may be outwardly displaced untilthe base and lid latching abutments 776 a, 776 b, 760 a, 760 b arealigned, after which the springs 770 a, 770 b return the base latchingabutments 776 a, 776 b to a locked or rest position, thereby locking thepackage 744 closed.

Additionally, the leg 772 a of the upper latch 754 a may include aprotrusion that mates with an aperture in the leg 772 b of the lowerlatch 754 b, and/or vice versa, that may assist in guiding the slidingmovement of the legs 772 a, 772 b as the latches 754 a, 754 b are movedbetween open and locked or rest positions. Additionally, according to anembodiment, the insert 750 or first shell portion 746 may include atleast one protrusion 778 that may assist in guiding the displacement ofthe actuator portion 764 a, 764 b or sliding movement of the upperand/or lower legs 772 a, 772 b.

FIGS. 81 to 85 illustrate an embodiment of an insert 780 having firstand second latches 782 a, 782 b that are attached to the bottom 764 ofthe insert 780. Although FIGS. 81 to 85 illustrate the use of twolatches 782 a, 782 b, the insert 780 may be configured for use with oneor more than two latches. Additionally, the insert 780 shown in FIGS. 81to 85 may be used with a variety of the packages and sealingarrangements previously described. Further, although the insert 780shown in FIG. 83 illustrates the backside of two product containingspaces 786, as with the inserts previously illustrated, the insert 780may be configured to include one or more product containing spaces 786.

According to an embodiment, the insert 780 includes an opening 788, atab 790, and a guide 792 for each latch 782 a, 782 b. The latches 782 a,782 b may include an actuator portion 796 a, 796 b, a spring 798 a, 798b, a leg opening 800 a, 800 b, a slot 802 a, 802 b, and latchingabutments 794 a, 794 b. The latch 782 a, 782 b may have a first leg 808a, 808 b and a second leg 810 a, 810 b that generally form an “L” shapedconfiguration. The first leg 808 a, 808 b may include, or be attachedto, the actuator portion 796 a, 796 b and the spring 798 a, 798 b. Thespring 798 a, 798 b may be integrally molded to the latch 782 a, 782 bor non-integral. Additionally, a variety of springs may be incorporated,either separately or in combination, including leaf and helicalcompression springs. According to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 81to 85, the latch 782 a, 782 b includes an integrally molded leaf spring798 a, 798 b that extends from a side of the actuator portion 796 a, 796b and engages a wall surface on the insert 780. Alternatively, thespring 798 a, 798 b may engage a wall of a first shell portion. When thelatches 782 a, 782 b are in a rest or locked position, the latches 782a, 782 b are biased by the spring 798 in a locked or rest position, asshown in FIGS. 81 and 82.

As shown in FIGS. 81 to 85, the actuator portion 796 a, 796 b extendsthrough the opening 788 in the insert 780. As also previously discussed,the first shell portion also includes an opening through which theactuator portion 796 a, 796 b protrudes when the latch 782 a, 782 b isin a rest or locked position.

The second leg 810 a, 810 b may include a leg opening 800 a, 800 b, aslot 802 a, 802 b and a latching abutment 794 a, 794 b. The leg opening800 a, 800 b is configured to receive the insertion of the guide 792,which may at least assist in guiding the generally inwardly lateralmovement (as in indicated by “L” in FIG. 84) of the second leg 810 a,810 b when the latch 782 a, 782 b is moved from a rest or lockedposition to an open position, and assist in the generally outwardlylateral movement of the second leg 810 a, 810 b when the latch 782 a,782 b is moved from an open position to a locked or rest position. Atleast a portion of the end region 804 of the second leg 810 a, 810 bwraps around at least a portion of the tab 790 in the insert 780, withthe tab 790 being received in a slot 802 a, 802 b in the latch 782 a,782 b. Both the slot 802 a, 802 b and the tab 790 have a generallyangled orientation, as shown in FIGS. 81 to 85. According to anembodiment, the slot 802 a, 802 and tab 790 may be angled at about 45degrees from a front portion 806 of the insert 780.

The latching abutments 794 a, 794 b are configured to engage with thelatching abutments that extend from the second shell portion or lid, aspreviously discussed. As shown in FIG. 84, when at a rest or lockedposition, the latching abutments 794 a, 794 b at least partiallyprotrude from the front portion 806 of the insert 780 so as to lockinglyengage the latching abutments of the second shell portion or lid whenthe package is in a closed position.

The latching abutments 794 a, 794 b shown in FIGS. 81 to 85 may have achamfered or contoured surface, such as a ramp, that assists in movingthe latching abutments 794 a, 794 b from a locked or closed position toan open position as the package is in the process of being closed. Forexample, when a package is moved from an opened, unlocked position, to aclosed, locked position, the latching abutments 794 a, 794 b of thelatches 782 a, 782 b may be in a position that contacts the lid latchingabutments before the lid latching abutments reach the needed position oralignment for a locking engagement with the latching abutments 794 a,794 b of the latches 782 a, 782 b. Therefore, the latching abutments 794a, 794 b may include chamfers or contours that assist with thedisplacement the latching abutments 794 a, 794 b towards the packageuntil the lid latching abutments are positioned for a locking engagementwith the latching abutments 794 a, 794 b of the latches 782 a, 782 b.

When the actuator portion 796 is displaced in a generally inwardlylateral direction (as indicated by “L” in FIG. 81), at least a portionof the second leg 810 a, 810 b also moves in a generally inwardlylateral direction. As previously mentioned, the guide 792 may assist indirecting the lateral movement of at least a portion of the second leg810 a, 810 b. However, as the end region 804 a, 804 b of the second leg810 a, 810 b, and particularly the slot 802 a, 802 b, is engaged withthe angled tab 790 of the insert 780, the inwardly lateral displacementof the actuator portion 796 a, 796 b also causes at least the end region804 a, 804 b of the second leg 810 a, 810 b to also be moved in aninwardly angled direction (as indicated by “S” in FIG. 84). The inwardlyangled displacement of the end region 804 of the second leg 810 a, 810 bcauses the latching abutments 794 a, 794 b of the latch 782 a, 782 b tobe withdrawn from the front portion 806 of the insert 780, therebyallowing for the latching abutments 794 a, 794 b of the latches 782 a,782 b to disengage from the latching abutments of the second shellportion or lid, thereby unlocking the package.

As also shown in FIGS. 84 and 85, as the actuator portions 796 a, 796 bare generally laterally displaced to unlock the package, the generallyinwardly lateral movement of the second legs 810 a, 810 b about guide792 and the angled movement of the end region 804 a, 804 b of the secondleg 810 a, 810 b may cause the distortion, deflecting, or bending of anintermediate portion 812 a, 812 b of the second leg 810 a, 810 b.According to an embodiment, when the pressure that displaced theactuator portion 796 a, 796 b is removed, this intermediate portion 812a, 812 b of the second leg 810 a, 810 b may act as a spring that atleast assists in returning the latch 782 a, 782 b to its rest or lockedposition as the intermediate portion 812 a, 812 b returns from adistorted, deformed, or bent condition to its rest or locked shape ororientation.

Referring to FIGS. 86 to 90, an embodiment of a package 814 is shownhaving a first shell portion 816, a second shell portion 818, an insert820, a gasket 822, and a hinge 850. The first shell portion 816 includesa base 824 and a base sidewall 826, the base sidewall 826 having atleast one opening 828. The second shell portion 818 includes a lidsidewall 830, at least one guide post 832, and a lid closed lip 834. Theinsert 820 includes at least one actuator portion 832, a central region838, and an upper surface 840. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 86to 90, the insert 820 has three actuator portions 836. Each actuatorportion 836 extends through a mating opening 828 in the base sidewall826. As previously discussed, a variety of hinges may be used for thehinge 850, such as integral and non-integral hinges, including a doublehinge, double-fold, flat-top, butterfly, or pinned hinge, among others.

According to certain embodiments, the insert 820 may include an innerwall 842 that at least partially defines a portion of at least oneproduct containing space 844. Additionally, the insert 820 may include acover 848 over at least a portion of the product containing space 844,the cover 848 providing a dispenser opening 864 for the dispensing ofproduct from the product containing space 844 and a product accessopening 846. The cover 848 may be integrally molded to, or separatefrom, the insert 820 or first shell portion 816.

According to an embodiment, the gasket 822 may include an upper portion852 that is joined to a lower portion 854. According to certainembodiments, the gasket 822 may include a space 856 between at least aportion of the upper portion 852 and the lower portion 854 that mayinclude an inner area that is configured to receive at least a portionof the insert 820 and/or first shell portion 816 so as to secure thegasket 822 to the insert 820 and/or the first shell portion 816. Theupper portion 852 may include a groove 858. A groove 858 is definedbetween the upper portion 852 of gasket 822 and a raised portion ofinsert 20 (FIG. 88), which may be the cover and is configured to receivethe placement of the lid closed lip 834 when the package 814 is in aclosed position. Alternatively, a groove for receiving the lip 834 couldbe defined in the upper portion 852 of gasket 822. The gasket 822 mayalso include at least one spring 860. The spring 860 may or may not beconfigured to be in contact with the actuator portion 832 when thepackage 814 is in an open position. According to an embodiment, thegasket 822 is constructed from an elastomeric material, such as thosediscussed above with respect to the ancillary seal 522. When the package814 is brought from an open position to a closed position, the lidclosed lip 834 extends into the groove 858 to form a seal. According toan embodiment, the engagement of the lid closed lip 834 and groove 858may cause the gasket 822 to be deformed about at least a portion of theadjacent engaging surfaces of the lid closed lip 834, thereby creatingthe seal. Additionally, such an engagement may also create aninterference fit between the lid closed lip 834 and the gasket 822 thatretains, or locks, the package 814 in a closed position.

According to an embodiment, one or more guide posts 832 extending fromthe second shell package 814 at least assist in properly aligning thesecond shell portion 818 with the insert 820 and/or the first shellportion 816 when the package 814 is being closed. According to such anembodiment, each guide post 832 may be received in a correspondingaperture 862 in the insert 820 or in the first shell portion 816.According to certain embodiments, at least a portion of the guide post832 may be received by the aperture 862 before the lid closed lip 834begins to engage the groove 858 so that the second shell portion 818 andinsert 820 and/or the first shell portion 816 are properly alignedbefore any portion of the seal begins to be formed.

When a closed package 814 is to be opened, a user may inwardly press onthe actuator portion(s) 836 so as to push the spring(s) 860 against thegasket 822 to cause the gasket 822 to at least partially deform from itslocked configuration or orientation. This at least partial deformationof the gasket 822 permits the unseating of the lid closed lip 834 in thegroove 858, and thereby allows the package 814 to be opened. In oneembodiment, the package 814 is configured such that all of actuatorportions 836 provided must be depressed in order to cause sufficientdeformation of the gasket 822 so as to permit unseating of the lip 834.In other embodiments, the lip 834 can be removed from the groove whenonly some of the actuator portions 836 are pushed.

Referring to FIGS. 91 to 95, a package 866 is shown having a first shellportion 868, a second shell portion 870, a hinge 872, an insert 874, aninner wall member 876, and a gasket 878. The first shell portion 868includes a base 880, a base sidewall 882, and at least one opening 884.The second shell portion 870 includes a lid sidewall 886, a secondclosed lip 888, and at least one catch 890, the catch 890 having a catchaperture 892. According to an embodiment, the catch 890 may beintegrated into, or part of, the lid sidewall 886. As previouslydiscussed, the hinge 872 may be an integral or non-integral hinge, andjoins the first and second shell portions 868, 870. The insert 874 hasan insert base 894 and an insert wall 896. The insert wall 896 maygenerally define a product containing space 898. Additionally, theproduct containing space 898 may be covered by a cover 900, aspreviously discussed, which may be integrally molded, or attached, tothe first insert 874.

The gasket 878 has a gasket base 902 and a gasket wall 904, and may beconstructed from an elastomeric or non-elastomeric material, includingthe elastomeric and non-elastomeric materials discussed above. At leasta portion of the gasket base 902 extends beneath the insert base 904.The gasket wall 904 generally extends upward from the gasket base 902,as shown by at least FIGS. 93 and 94. According to certain embodiments,the gasket base 902 may be adhered to the base 880 of the first shellportion 868. Alternatively, the gasket 878 may include at least oneprotrusion that extends from the base of the gasket 878, such as a post,pin, or wall, that mates with a slot or aperture in the base, or viceversa, that secures the gasket 878 to the first shell portion 868.

The gasket wall 904 has an inner surface 906, an outer surface 908, anda gasket lip 910. According to an embodiment, the inner surface 906 ofthe gasket 878 may be adjacent to, and abut, at least a portion of theinsert wall 896. The gasket 878 may be at least partially stretched ordeformed about the insert wall 896 to securely engage the gasket 878with the insert 874. Alternatively, the insert base 894 may be adheredto the gasket base 902. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 94, according toan embodiment, the inner surface 906 or an upper edge of the gasket 878may include a first protrusion 912 that mates with a recess 914 orchamfered surface in the insert wall 896 to assist with securing theinsert 874 to the gasket 878, and/or vice versa.

The gasket lip 910 is configured to mate with a recess 916 in the secondclosed lip 888 when the package 866 is in a closed position so as toform a seal inside the package 866. Moreover, when the package 866 is ina closed position, at least a portion of the gasket 878 may be deformedso that the gasket lip 910 is pressed into the recess 916 of the secondclosed lip 888 to form a seal. Additionally, at least a portion of thegasket 878 may be pressed, and at least partially deformed, between atleast a portion of the second closed lip 888 and the insert 874, therebyforming a seal.

As shown by at least FIG. 95, the inner wall member 876 includes a firstsurface 918, a second surface 920, and at least one latch 922. The firstsurface 918 may be adjacent to and abut the gasket 878, while the secondsurface 920 may be adjacent to, and abut the base sidewall 882 of thefirst shell portion 868. The second surface 920 of the gasket 878 mayinclude a second protrusion 924 that mates with a recess 926 orchamfered surface in the first surface 918 of the inner wall member 876.Additionally, according to an embodiment, the inner wall member 876 maybe constructed from a relatively rigid material. For example, accordingto an embodiment, the inner wall member 876 may be constructed from anon-elastomeric material.

According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 95, the inner wallmember 876 includes two latches 922 a, 922 b, while the second shellincludes two mating catches 892 a, 892 b. The latches 922 a, 922 binclude an actuator portion 928 a, 928 b, a latching abutment 930 a, 930b, and a leg 932 a, 932 b, the leg 932 a, 932 b having a first end 934a, 934 b and a second end 936 a, 936 b. The first end 934 a, 934 b ofthe leg may include, or terminate at, the actuator portion 928 a, 928 b,while the second end 936 a, 936 b may be connected to the body 938 ofthe inner wall member 876. At least a portion of the actuator portion928 a, 928 b may extend through the opening 884 in the first shellportion 868. Additionally, at least a portion of the leg 932 a, 932 bmay be separated from the body 938 of the inner wall member 876 by aspace 946 a, 946 b, which provides an area in which the leg 932 a, 932 bmay be displaced, bent, deflected, and/or distorted when the actuatorportion 928 a, 928 b is displaced toward the interior of the package 866in a generally lateral direction (as indicated by “L” in FIG. 91). Theleg 932 a, 932 b may also be configured to bias the actuator portion 928a, 928 b and latching abutment 930 a, 930 b in a locked or restposition, as shown in FIG. 95.

The latching abutment 930 a, 930 b may upwardly extend from the leg 932a, 932 b or the actuator portion 928 a, 928 b and through an aperture940 a, 940 b in the insert 874 or first shell portion 868. The latchingabutment 930 a, 930 b is configured to lockingly engage the catchaperture 892 a, 892 b when the package 866 is closed. Moreover, thelatching abutment 930 a, 930 b may have a protrusion 942 a, 942 b thatprotrudes into the catch aperture 892 a, 892 b to lock the package 866in a closed position. Additionally, an upper surface 944 of theprotrusion 942 may be chamfered so as to facilitate the ability of thelatching abutment 930 a, 930 b to be deflected, bent, or distorted whenthe bottom of the catch 890 a, 890 b comes into contact with thelatching abutment 930 a, 930 b as the package 866 is being moved from anopen position to a closed position and until the catch aperture 892 a,892 b is moved into position for locking engagement with the latchingabutment 930 a, 930 b.

When a locked package 866 is to be opened, the actuator portions 928 a,928 b are inwardly displaced in direction L of FIG. 91, causing thedeflection, distortion, or bending of the legs 932 a, 932 b and thedisplacement of the latching abutment 930 a, 930 b. The latchingabutment 930 a, 930 b is inwardly displaced at least until the latchingabutment 930 a, 930 b disengages the catch 890 a. 890 b, therebyallowing the package 866 to be opened. When the inward pressure on theactuator portions 928 a, 928 b is released, the legs 932 a, 932 b mayreturn to their rest or locked position, and thereby also return theactuator portions 928 a, 928 b and latching abutments 930 a, 930 b to arest or locked position.

As previously discussed, the inserts for the packages described hereinmay be operably secured to the first shell portion, such as through theuse of adhesives, mechanical fasteners, welding, or snap or frictionfits between at least a portion of the insert and at least a portion ofthe first shell portion, among others. Such inserts may includedownwardly extending tabs that fit or mate into slots, openings, orprotrusions, such as ribs, that are formed in the first shell portion.For example, according to an embodiment, a first shell portion mayinclude one or more protrusions or ribs, such as a rib along both sidesof the interior region of the first shell portion and two parallel ribsalong a front central portion of the interior region of the first shellportion. According to such an embodiment, when the insert is properlypositioned within the first shell portion, the downwardly extending tabsfrom the insert may engage, such as abut and/or press upon, the ribs inthe first shell portion.

As shown in FIG. 96, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, at least one spring 958 a, 958 b may assist in properlypositioning and/or securing an insert 952 to a first shell portion 954.According to an embodiment, the springs 958 a, 958 b are attached to, orextend from, the first shell portion. According to another embodiment,the latches 950 a, 950 b, such those previously discussed, include aspring 958 a, 958 b that press upon a downwardly extending tab 956 ofthe insert 952. Moreover, the spring 958 a, 958 b may be the same springor leg of the latch 950 a, 950 b used to bias the latch 950 a, 950 b ina rest or locked position, or may be a secondary spring. According tosuch embodiments, the spring 958 a, 958 b may be integrally molded to,or non-integrally attached to, the latch 950 a, 950 b.

The springs 958 a, 958 b may be loaded in the lateral or verticaldirections (as indicated by “L” or “V” in FIG. 1) so as to exert a forceon the insert 952 as the insert 952 is being inserted into the firstshell portion 954, and thereby assist in properly positioning or guidingthe insert 952 into the first shell portion 954. For example, accordingto an embodiment, the latches 950 a, 950 b may press upon the tab 956 sothat the tab 956 is guided to be placed against or within acorresponding protrusion or rib 960 in the first shell portion 954.According to an embodiment, once the insert 952 has been properlypositioned in the first shell portion 954, the spring 958 a, 958 b maycontinue to exert sufficient force on the insert 952 to retain theinsert 952 at a desired position within the first shell portion 954.According to another embodiment, after the insert 952 has beenpositioned within the first shell portion 954, the insert 954 may befurther secured to the first shell portion 954 through the applicationof a mechanical fastener, adhesive, or welding, such as wet welding.

Referencing FIGS. 97 and 98, according to an embodiment, the package 962may include an integrally formed first member 964 and a second member966. According to an embodiment, the first member 964 may include thesecond shell portion 968 and the insert 970, while the second member 966may include the first shell portion 972. According to anotherembodiment, the first member 964 may include the second shell portion968, the insert 970 and/or other portion of the first shell portion 972that is part of the first member, such as the base sidewall 974.According to such an embodiment, the second member 966 may include thebase 976 of the first shell portion 972. Additionally, according tocertain embodiments, the first member 964 may include an integral hingesimilar to those previously discussed that allows at least a portion ofthe second shell portion 968 be removed or pivoted away from the insert970 so as to open the first member 964 and provide a user access toproduct contained in the insert 970. The package 962 may also include aseal for sealing a product containing space within the insert 970 fromambient air that is outside of the seal, such as those seals previouslydiscussed above.

The first member 964 may include openings 978 configured to receive theplacement of the actuator portion of one or more latches, such as thelatches previously discussed above. Additionally, the first member 964or second member 966 may be configured to receive the placement of thelatches during assembly. The second member 966 may be configured to beoperably secured to the first member 964, such as by a friction fit, asnap fit, mechanical fasteners, welding, or adhesives, among others.

Referencing FIGS. 99 to 103, a package 980 is shown having a lid 982, asleeve 984, and a container 986. According to the embodiment illustratedin FIGS. 99 to 103, the package 980 has a generally rectangularconfiguration. However, the package 980 may have a variety ofgeometrical shapes, including square, triangular, cylindrical,trapezoidal, round, and non-round, among others.

According to an embodiment, the lid 982 includes a top portion 988, afront lid wall 990, and a closed lip 992. The sleeve 984 may include abase 994, a sidewall 996, and an opening 998. As shown in FIGS. 99 to103, according to an embodiment, the sidewall 996 of the sleeve 984 hasa generally rectangular configuration and includes a front wall 996 a, afirst sidewall 996 b, a second sidewall 996 c, and a back sidewall 996d. The base 994 and sidewalls 996 generally define an interior region1000 that is configured to receive the slideable insertion of thecontainer 986. Additionally, the lid 982 and sleeve 984 may beintegrally molded or non-integral. According to certain embodiments, thelid 982 may be removably or pivotably attached to the sleeve 984. Forexample, according to an embodiment, the top portion 988 of the lid 982may be joined to the back sidewall 996 d of the sleeve 984 by a hinge,such as by the one or more of the hinges previously discussed.

The container 986 includes a sidewall 1002 and a base 1004. The sidewall1002 and base 1004 of the container 986 generally define a productcontaining space 1006, with an upper region 1008 of the sidewall 1002defining a container opening 1010 that is configured for the insertionand/or removal of product to/from to the product containing space 1006.As the container 986 is configured for slideable movement within thesleeve 984, according to certain embodiments, the container 986 may havea geometrical configuration similar to that of the sleeve 984, such as arectangular configuration, among others.

At least one sidewall of the sleeve 984 may include at least one slot1012 that allows a user to move the container 986 from a locked or restposition to an open position. For example, as shown in FIGS. 99, 101,102, and 103, according to an embodiment, the front sidewall 996 a ofthe sleeve 984 has a slot 1012 that is configured to allow the slideablemovement of a slide button 1014 that is attached to, or part of, asidewall 1002 of the container 986. Although the slot 1012 is shownextending in a generally vertical direction (as indicated by “V” in FIG.101), the slot 1012 may have a variety of configurations, including apartial spiral configuration for use with a cylindrically shaped sleeve984 and container 986, among others. The slide button 1014 may berecessed from the sidewall 1002, or may extend from the sidewall 1002 ofthe container 986 so as to be flush with, or protrude from, the frontsidewall 996 a of the sleeve 984. Alternatively, the slide button 1014may include surface characteristics, such as, for example, protrusionsor grooves that assist in a user's ability to slide the container 986from a rest or locked position to an open position. Additionally, theslot 1012 and slide button 1014 may be placed at a variety of locationsalong the sidewalls 1002, 996 of the container 986 and sleeve 984,respectively, such as on a sidewall first 996 b, second 996 c, or rearsidewall 996 d, or a combination thereof, of the sleeve 984 and on acorresponding sidewall 1002 of the container 986.

As shown by at least FIG. 103, according to an embodiment, when thepackage 980 is closed, a groove 1016 extends around the closed lip 992.For example, the groove 1016 may extend between the closed lip 992 andthe adjacent lid wall 990 and/or sidewall 996 of the sleeve 984. Thegroove 1016 is configured to receive the slideable insertion of thesidewalls 1002 of the container 986 to form a seal about the containeropening 1010, as shown for example in FIGS. 101 and 102. Moreover, theclosed lip 992 and sidewall 1002 of the container 986 may be configuredto engage each other to form a seal about the container opening 1010when the package 980 is closed. According to an embodiment, the closedlip 992 may have a relatively thin wall thickness that allows the closedlip 992 to be bent, deformed, or distorted when engaged by the sidewall1002 of the container 986 so that a seal is formed between at least aportion of the closed lip 992 and the adjacent container 986 sidewall1002 surface. Additionally, according to certain embodiments, the groove1016 may have a similar thickness as the container 986 sidewalls 1002but still have a sufficient thickness to receive the slideable movementof the container 986 sidewalls 1002 into at least a portion of the grove1016. According to other embodiments, the groove 1016 may be sized tohouse or receive an ancillary seal 522, such as those discussed abovewith respect to FIGS. 40 to 54, in addition to receiving the slideableinsertion and removal of at least one sidewall 1002 of the container986. According to such an embodiment, one or more ancillary seals 522may be used to create a face and/or side seal between the sidewall 1002of the container 986 and/or the lid 982, including the closed lip 992.

According to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 99 to 103, when thepackage 980 is closed, a spring 1018 may bias the container 986 in arest or locked position in which the sidewall 1002 of the container 986engages the closed lip 992 of the lid 982. When the package 980 is to beopened, a user may slide the slide button 1014 along the slot 1012 inthe sleeve 984 in a generally downward vertical direction, causing thecontainer 986 to be downwardly displaced and thus withdraw the sidewalls1002 of the container 986 from the groove 1016 in the lid 982. The lid982 may then be removed or pivoted from the sleeve 984 so that a usermay dispense or insert product from/into the product containing space1006. When the user releases the slid button 1014, the spring 1018 mayagain bias the container 986 and slide button 1014 in a generallyupwardly direction until the container 986 returns to the rest or lockedposition.

To close the package 980, the user may again slide the slide button 1014in a generally downward vertical direction so that the sidewalls 1002 ofthe container 986 do not interfere with the lid 982 being moved from anopen to a closed position. After the package has been closed, the slidebutton 1014 may be released, thereby allowing the spring 1018 to againbias the container 986 into a locked or rest position, whereupon thesidewall 1002 of the container 986 may again enter the groove 1016.

Referring to FIGS. 104 to 106, a package 1020 is shown having a base1022, a lid 1024, and a button 1026. The base 1022 includes a basesidewall 1028, a base shoulder 1030, a product containing space 1032,and a first orifice. The base sidewall 1028 may define an outerperipheral surface 1036 of the base 1022. Additionally according to anembodiment, at least a portion of the base sidewall 1028 and the baseshoulder 1030 may define at least a portion of the product containingspace 1032. The first orifice may be configured to receive the placementof at least a portion of the button 1026, which may be operably attachedto the base 1022.

The lid 1024 may include a lid sidewall 1038, a top portion 1040, a lidclosed lip 1042, a lid shoulder 1044, and a second orifice 1046. Thesecond orifice 1046 is generally aligned with first orifice in the base1022 and is configured to receive the slideable movement of the button1026. The lid sidewall 1038 may extend around the perimeter of the lid1024 and may have varying vertical heights. For example, as shown inFIGS. 104 to 106, the lid sidewall 1038 along a first side 1048 of thelid 1024 may be shorter in height, as indicated by the direction “V” inFIG. 104, than the height of the lid sidewall 1038 along a second side1050 of the lid 1024. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 104, according toan embodiment, when the package 1020 is in a closed position, at least aportion of the lid sidewall 1038 may be generally aligned, or flush,with at least a portion of the base sidewall 1028. Further, at least aportion of the lid sidewall 1038, such as the second side 1050 of thelid sidewall 1038 may be configured to cover at least a portion of thebase sidewall 1028 when the package 1020 is in a closed position.

The lid closed lip 1042 is configured to seal the package containingspace 1032 when the package 1020 is in a closed position. For example,according to an embodiment, the lid closed lip 1042 may be constructedfrom an elastomeric or non-elastomeric material that is engages at leasta portion of an inner surface of the base sidewall 1028 so as to form aseal about the product containing space 1032. According to such anembodiment, the lid closed lip 1042 may have a generally thin wallthickness that allows the lid closed lip 1042 to be bent, deformed, ordistorted when engaging the base sidewall 1028 so as to form a seal,such as, for example, a side or face seal. According to anotherembodiment, a ancillary seal 522 similar to those discussed above withrespect to FIGS. 40-54, may be use with, or in lieu of the lid closedlip 1042.

The lid shoulder 1044 is configured to be adjacent to the base shoulder1030 when the package 1020 is in a closed position. Such positioning ofthe shoulders 1030, 1044 of the base 1022 and lid 1024 may be configuredto create an interference that prevents the opening of the package 1020.Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 105 to 106, according to an embodiment,the lid 1024 may be pivoted or rotated about the button 1026 so as toallow a user access to the product containing space 1032. According tosuch an embodiment, the lid 1024 may also include at least one arm orsleeve 1052 that extends into the first orifice or adjacent to the firstorifice in the base 1022, and which assists in pivotably attaching thelid 1024 and the base 1022.

According to an embodiment, to open the package 1020, a user maydisplace the button 1026 in a generally downward vertical direction, asagain indicated by “V” in FIG. 104. According to certain embodiments,such vertical displacement of the button 1026 may cause or allow the lid1024 to be vertically raised or separated from the base 1022 by asufficient height so as to eliminate interference between the baseshoulder 1030 and lid shoulder 1044 and remove the seal between theclosed lip and the base 1022, thereby allowing the package 1020 to bepivotably opened to expose the product containing space 1032. Accordingto an embodiment, the button 1026 may be spring loaded so that, when anopened package 1020 is to be closed, and the lid 1024 is generallyaligned with the base 1022 for closing the package 1020, the spring maypull the base 1022 and lid 1024 back together so as to lock the package1020 in a sealed, closed position.

FIGS. 107 to 111 illustrate an insert 1054, which may be used with thepackages previously discussed, that controls the dispensing of productfrom a product containing space 1056. The insert 1054 includes a slideassembly 1058, the product containing space 1056, and a dispenserreceptacle 1060. According to an embodiment, the product containingspace 1056 and the dispenser receptacle 1060 may be integrally moldedinto the insert 1054, or may be separate components that are assembledin the insert 1054. For example, as shown in FIG. 111, the productcontaining space 1056 may be housed in a secondary insert 1094 that isassembled in the insert 1054. The insert 1054 or secondary insert 1094include a first sidewall 1064 and at least one inner opening 1066.According to an embodiment, the first sidewall 1064 defines at least aportion of the perimeter of the product containing space 1056. Theproduct containing space 1056 includes a mouth 1068 through whichproduct may be dispensed out from the product containing space 1056.

According to an embodiment, the slide assembly 1058 includes a lever1070, a slide opening 1072, and a spring 1074. The slide assembly 1058has an integral or non-integral construction. The spring 1074 biases theslide assembly 1058 in a closed position so that, when the slideassembly 1058 is in an open position and a user releases the lever 1070,the slide assembly 1058 returns to a closed position. According to anembodiment, product in the product containing space 1056 is notdispensed to the dispenser receptacle 1060 when the slide assembly 1058is in a closed position.

The slide opening 1072 may be sized to transport a certain amount ofproduct, namely the amount of product that fits in the slide opening1072, to the inner opening 1066 for dispensing into the dispenserreceptacle 1060. For example, the slide opening 1072 may be sized tohold one or more pieces of product.

According to an embodiment, the insert 1054 or secondary insert 1094includes a track 1076, groove, and/or protrusion that guides thedisplacement of the slide assembly 1058 in a horizontal direction (asindicated by “H” FIG. 110) as the slide assembly 1058 is moved to andfrom the open and closed position. The track may include a recessedregion of the secondary insert 1062 and the first sidewall 1064 of thesecondary insert 1062.

According to an embodiment, the mouth 1068 of the product containingspace 1056 and the inner opening 1066 are offset. According to such anembodiment, when the slide assembly 1058 is in a closed position, theslide opening 1072 generally aligns with the mouth 1068 of the productcontaining space 1056 so that product may be dispensed from the productcontaining space 1056 to the slide opening 1072. When the slide assembly1058 is moved to an open position, at least a portion of the slideopening 1072 is generally aligned with the inner opening 1066. Theproduct contained in the slide opening 1072 may then pass through theinner opening 1066 and into the dispenser receptacle 1060. Additionally,as the slide opening 1072 is moved into general alignment with the inneropening 1066, an outer slide wall 1078 of the slide assembly 1058 may atleast partially move in front of the mouth 1068 of the productcontaining space 1056, thereby preventing the dispensing of additionalproduct from the product containing space 1056. When the user releasesthe lever 1070 of the opened slide assembly 1058, the spring 1074 biasesthe slide assembly 1058 back into a closed position.

According to other embodiments, the inner opening 1066 and mouth 1068 ofthe product containing space 1056 may be generally aligned. According tosuch embodiments, the slide may include a slide wall that blocks thepassage of product from the mouth 1068 of the product containing space1056 and the inner opening 1066 when the slide assembly 1058 is in aclosed position. When the user moves the slide assembly 1058 to an openposition, the slide wall also moves and the slide opening 1072 becomesgenerally aligned with the mouth 1068 and inner opening 1066 so thatproduct may move from the product containing space 1056 and into thedispenser receptacle 1060.

The insert 1054 may also include, or be attached to, a cover 1080, aspreviously discussed. According to an embodiment, the cover 1080 maycover the product containing space 1056 and at least a portion of thedispenser receptacle 1060. According to an embodiment, the cover 1080includes a slot 1082, at least a portion of the lever 1070 protrudingthrough the slot 1082 so that a user may engage at least a portion ofthe lever 1070. The slot 1082 may also be configured to allow thedisplacement of the latch 1070 in the lever 1070 in the generally “H”direction (as indicated by “H” in FIG. 110) as the slide assembly 1068is moved between open and closed positions. Additionally, the slot 1082may include one or more notches in which the lever 1070 may be slid soas to lock the slide assembly 1058 in an open and/or closed position.The cover 1080 also includes a dispenser opening 1084 through whichproduct in the dispenser receptacle 1060 may be removed from the insert1054.

FIGS. 112 to 116 illustrate an insert 1084, which may be used with thepackages previously discussed, that includes a push button assembly 1086that controls the dispensing of product. The insert 1084 may include acover 1088, a product containing space 1090, a dispenser receptacle1092, and the push button assembly 1086. The product containing space1090 may be defined by walls of the insert 1084, or may be part of asecondary insert 1094, as previously discussed. According to anembodiment, the product containing space 1090 includes a mouth 1096 thatis configured to allow the passage of product out from the productcontaining space 1090. The dispenser receptacle 1092 includes an opening1098 through which product enters the dispenser receptacle 1092.

According to an embodiment, the opening 1098 of the dispenser receptacle1092 is offset from the mouth 1096 of the product containing space 1090in a vertical direction (as indicated by “V” in FIG. 116) so that thebottom of the opening 1098 is at a lower or higher height than thebottom of the mouth 1096. Moreover, the opening 1098 and the mouth 1096may be offset at a height sufficient to prevent the passing of productfrom the product containing space 1090 to the dispenser receptacle 1092without the displacement of the push button assembly 1086. Additionally,the push button assembly 1086 may be configured to interfere with theability of product to pass from the mouth 1096 and into opening 1098without manipulation of the push button assembly 1086. According to theembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 112 to 116, the bottom of the opening1098 is positioned higher than the bottom of the mouth 1096.

The push button assembly 1086 includes a button 1100, at least onespring 1102, and an orifice 1104, the orifice 1104 being operablyconnected to the button 1100. According to the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 113 and 116, the push button assembly 1086 includes two springs1102. The orifice 1104 may be positioned within the body of the button1100, the orifice 1104 being sized to receive the insertion of one ormore pieces of product that is stored in the product containing space1090. The button 1100 may be at least partially housed in a sleeve 1108in the insert 1084 or secondary insert 1094 that assists in guiding themovement of the button 1100.

According to an embodiment, the springs 1102 bias the button 1100 sothat the orifice 1104 is generally aligned with either the mouth 1096 ofthe product containing space 1090 or the opening 1098 of the dispenserreceptacle 1092, and so that the button 1100 protrudes through anorifice 1104 in the cover 1086. For example, according to certainembodiments, the springs 1102 bias the button 1100 so that the orifice1104 is generally aligned with the opening 1098 of the dispenserreceptacle 1092. According to such an embodiment, a user may depress thebutton 1100 in the “V” direction, thereby bringing the orifice 1104 ofthe button 1100 into general alignment with the mouth 1096 of theproduct containing space 1090. The user may then tilt the package sothat at least one piece of product contained in the product containingspace 1090 enters the orifice 1104. The user may then release the button1100, thereby allowing the springs 1102 to force the button 1100 upwardin the “V” direction so that the orifice 1104 is generally aligned withthe opening 1098 of the dispenser receptacle 1092. The user may thentilt, or the product may then move, out of the orifice 1104 and into thedispenser receptacle 1092. The product may then be removed through adispenser opening 1106 in the cover 1086.

According to another embodiment, rather than being a push button, thebutton 1100 may rotate in a generally circular direction. According tosuch an embodiment, the mouth 1096 and opening 1098 may or may not beoffset in the vertical direction. The orifice 1104 in the button 1100may be biased by, among others, a spring or coil, so as to be biased incommunication with the mouth 1096 or the opening 1098. According to anembodiment in which the orifice 1104 is biased in communication with theopening 1098 of the dispenser receptacle 1092, the button 1100 isrotated until the orifice 1104 is in communication with the mouth 1096so that product contained in the product containing space 1090 may bemoved into the orifice 1104. Once product has been placed in the orifice1104, the button 1100 may be released, after which the button 1100rotates so that the orifice 1104 returns to being into communicationwith the dispenser receptacle 1092, and the product contained in theorifice 1104 may be moved into the dispenser receptacle 1092.

FIGS. 117 to 123 illustrate an insert 1110, which may be used with thepackages previously discussed, that includes a push button assembly 1112having a ramp 1114 that controls the dispensing of product. The insert1110 includes a product containing space 1116, a dispenser receptacle1118, the push button assembly 1112, and the ramp 1114. According to anembodiment, the ramp 1114 and product containing space 1116 may beintegrally molded in the insert 1110 or in a secondary insert 1120. Theproduct containing space 1116 may include a sidewall 1122, a mouth 1124,and a base 1126. The ramp 1114 may be positioned about, or adjacent to,the mouth 1124. According to an embodiment, at least a portion of theramp 1114 extends into the product containing space 1116. Additionally,according to an embodiment, the ramp 1114 extends from the base 1126 ofthe product containing space 1116, and may be detached or separated fromadjacent material along a portion of at least two of its sides by spaces1128. The spaces 1128 are configured to allow at least a portion of theramp 1114 to be bent, deflected, distorted, or pivoted in a generallydownward vertical direction (as indicated by “V” in FIG. 120).

The dispenser receptacle 1118 includes an opening 1130 and a receptaclesidewall 1132. According to an embodiment, at least a portion of theperimeter of the dispenser receptacle 1118 may be defined by an innerwall 1134 of the insert 1110 or secondary insert 1120. The inner wall1134 may also include the opening 1130 of the dispenser receptacle 1118.The opening 1130 of the dispenser receptacle 1118 is offset from themouth 1124 of the product containing space 1116 in a vertical directionso that at least a portion of the opening 1130 is at a lower or highervertical height than the mouth 1124. The opening 1130 and the mouth 1124may be offset at a height sufficient to prevent product from passingfrom the product containing space 1116 to the dispenser receptacle 1118without the displacement of the push button assembly 1112. Additionally,the push button assembly 1112 may be configured to interfere with theability of product to pass from the mouth 1124 and into opening 1130without manipulation of the push button assembly 1112. According tocertain embodiments, at least a portion of the bottom of the dispenserreceptacle 1118 is at a different vertical position than the base 1126of the product containing space 1116. For example, at least a portion ofthe bottom of the dispenser receptacle 1118 in proximity to the opening1130 of the dispenser receptacle 1118 may be at a higher or lowervertical position than the base 1126 of the product containing space1116 at the mouth 1124 of the product containing space 1116.

The push button assembly 1112 includes a button 1148, at least onespring 1136, and at least one tab 1138, the tab 1138 extending from thebottom 1150 or the side of the button 1148. In the embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 117 to 123, two tabs 1138 are shown extendingdownwardly from the button 1148. According to an embodiment, the spring1136 is integrally molded with the button 1148 and biases the button1148 upwardly so that, when the button 1148 is biased by the spring 1136into a rest position, there is space for at least a portion of theproduct from the product containing space 1116 to be positioned betweenthe bottom 1150 of the button 1148 and the ramp 1114.

The spring 1136 may also generally bias the button 1148 in an upwardvertical direction so that the button 1148 protrudes through an aperture1144 in a cover 1140. The cover 1140 covers at least a portion of theproduct containing space 1116, and includes a dispenser opening 1152 forthe removal of product from the dispenser receptacle 1118.

Additionally, according to an embodiment, the insert 1110 or secondaryinsert 1120 includes at least one recess that mates with a protrusion1144 that extends from the side of the button 1148 and assists inguiding the vertical movement of the button 1148 when the button 1148 isdownwardly displaced and as the displaced button 1148 returns to a restposition.

According to an embodiment, product from the product containing space1116 may be positioned beneath the button 1148 when the button 1148 isat a rest position by titling the package, which may cause the movementof product from the product containing space to the ramp 1114. Beforethe displacement of the button 1148, the inner wall 1134 and ramp 1114may prevent the product that is beneath the button 1148 from beingdispensed into the dispenser receptacle 1118. When product is to bedispensed into the dispenser receptacle 1118, the button 1148 isdisplaced in a generally downwardly vertical direction. According to anembodiment, as the button 1148 is downwardly displaced, the tab 1138from the button 1148 pushes downwardly on the ramp 1114 or on anextension member 1146 that extends from the ramp 1114. The downwardforce of the tab 1138 on the extension member 1146 and the spaces on theside of the ramp 1114 allow the ramp 1114 to be bent, deflected,deformed or pivoted so that the ramp 1114 downwardly extends from thebase 1126 of the product containing space 1116 to a position about theopening 1130 of the inner wall 1134 that allows the product that isbeneath the button 1148 to pass into the dispenser receptacle 1118.According to an embodiment, as the product that was beneath the button1148 is delivered to the dispenser receptacle 1118, the body of thebutton 1148 provides a barrier that prevents additional product frompassing out of the product containing space 1116 and into the dispenserreceptacle 1118, thereby controlling the amount of dispensed product.After the product from beneath the button 1148 has been dispensed intothe dispenser receptacle 1118, the downward force on the button 1148 isreleased. The spring 1136 then biases the button 1148 back to a restposition, where the alignment of the ramp 1114 and the inner wall 1134again prevent the dispensing of product from the product containingspace 1116 into the dispenser receptacle 1118.

It should be noted that the term “comprising” does not exclude otherelements or steps and that “a” or “an” do not exclude a plurality.

1. A package for the dispensing of a product to a user comprising: ashell portion having an inner region; and an insert secured in the innerregion, the insert including a product containing space, a dispenserreceptacle, and a slide assembly, the insert having a mouth throughwhich product may be removed from the product containing space, thedispenser receptacle having an opening through which product may enterthe dispenser receptacle, the position of the mouth being at leastpartially offset from the position of the opening; the slide assemblyincluding a lever and a slide opening, the slide opening beingconfigured to receive the placement of one or more pieces of productfrom the product containing space, the lever being adapted to bedisplaced by the user toward a sidewall of the insert to move the slideassembly from a closed position to an open position, the slide assemblybeing configured to slide the slide opening from being in communicationeither the mouth or the opening when the slide assembly is in a closedposition to being in communication with the other of the mouth or theopening when the slide assembly is in an open position.
 2. The packageof claim 2, wherein the slide assembly is biased towards the closedposition.
 3. The package of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of theinsert is covered by a cover, the cover having a dispenser opening and aslot, the dispenser opening configured for the removal of product fromthe dispenser receptacle, the slot being configured for the protrusiontherethrough of at least a portion of the lever from the cover.
 4. Thepackage of claim 3, wherein the insert includes a secondary insert, theproduct containing space being located in the secondary insert.
 5. Thepackage of claim 4, wherein the slide assembly is positioned in thesecondary insert.
 6. The package of claim 5, wherein the secondaryinsert includes a guide that guides the displacement of the slideassembly.
 7. The package of claim 3, wherein the slot includes at leastone notch to lock the position of the slide assembly.
 8. A package forthe dispensing of a product to a user comprising: a shell portion havingan inner region; and an insert secured in the inner region, the insertincluding a product containing space, a dispenser receptacle, and a pushbutton assembly, the insert having a mouth through which product mayexit the product containing space, the dispenser receptacle having anopening through which product may enter the dispenser receptacle, theposition of the mouth being at least partially offset from the positionof the opening; the push button assembly having a button that isdepressed by the user from a closed position to an open position, thebutton having a body and an aperture, the aperture positioned within atleast a portion of the body of the button, the aperture configured toreceive the placement of one or more pieces of product from the productcontaining space, the aperture being in communication with either of themouth or the opening when the button is in the closed position and beingin communication with the other of the mouth or the opening when thebutton is in the open position.
 9. The package of claim 8, wherein thepush button assembly is biased toward the closed position.
 10. Thepackage of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the insert is coveredby a cover, the cover having a dispenser opening and an aperture slot,the dispenser opening configured for the removal of product from thedispenser receptacle, the aperture slot being configured for at least aportion of the button to protrude from the cover.
 11. The package ofclaim 10, wherein the insert further includes a secondary insert, theproduct containing space being located in the secondary insert.
 12. Thepackage of claim 11, wherein the push button assembly is positioned inthe secondary insert.
 13. The package of claim 8, wherein the pushbutton assembly further includes at least one slot that mates with asleeve in the insert, the slot being configured to assist in guiding thedisplacement of the button.
 14. A package for the dispensing of aproduct to a user comprising: a shell portion having an inner region; aninsert secured in the inner region, the insert including a productcontaining space, a dispenser receptacle, and a ramp, the insert havinga mouth through which product may exit from the product containingspace, the dispenser receptacle having an opening through which productmay enter the dispenser receptacle, the position of the mouth being atleast partially offset from the position of the opening; and a pushbutton assembly positioned in the insert, the push button assemblyhaving a button that is configured to be depressed by the user from aclosed position to an open position, the button including a tab thatextends from a bottom surface of the button, the bottom surface beingseparated from the ramp by a distance that permits the placement of atleast one product from the product containing space when the button isin a closed position, the tab configured to displace at least a portionof the ramp when the button is depressed to an open position to allowfor product placed between the button and ramp to be transmitted to thedispenser receptacle.
 15. The package of claim 14, wherein the pushbutton assembly is biased towards the closed position.
 16. The packageof claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the insert is covered by acover, the cover having a dispenser opening and an aperture slot, thedispenser opening configured for the removal of product from thedispenser receptacle, the aperture slot configured for the protrusion ofat least a portion of the button from the cover.
 17. The package ofclaim 16 wherein the ramp includes at least one extension that isengaged by the tab when the button is depressed by the user.
 18. Thepackage of claim 16, wherein the push button assembly further includesslots that mate with a sleeve in the insert, the slots being configuredto assist in guiding the displacement of the button.
 19. The package ofclaim 14, wherein the insert further includes a secondary insert, theproduct containing space being located in the secondary insert.
 20. Thepackage of claim 19, wherein the push button assembly is positioned in asecondary insert.